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n 


n 


n 


s/ 


Coloured  covers  / 
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I      I   Covers  damaged  / 


Couverture  endommag^e 


□   Covers  restored  and/or  lartnnated  / 
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int^rieure. 

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I I   Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommag6es 


D 


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0   Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
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n 


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Ce  document  est  fllnti  au  taux  de  reduction  indlqai  ci-dessous. 


lOx 

14x 

18x 

22x 

28x 

30x 

V 

12x 


16x 


20x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —♦•(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

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method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  iti  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trcp  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1^ 

130 


|Z8 

1 40 


2.5 
2.2 

1.8 


A     APPLIED  IIVMGE 


1653  East   Main   Street 

Rochester,    Ne«   YorK         '4609       USA 

(716)    482  -  0300  -  Phone 

(716)   288  -  5989  -Fax 


CoMiNci  Amkkicaxs 


FORWARD  MISSION  STUDY  COURSES 

EDITED  UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF 
THE     VOUNG     PEOPLE'S     MISSIONARY     MOVEMENT 


ALIENS 


OR 


AMERICANS 


P 


HOWARD  B.  GROSE 

With  Introduction 
By  JosiAH  Strong 


YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  MISSIONARY  MOVEMENT 
NEW  YORK         -         -         -         TORONTO 


Copyright,  1906 

Young  People's  Missionary  Movement 

New  York 


UNGUARDED  GATES 

•••••••••a 

Wide  open  and  unguarded  stand  our  gates. 

And  through  them  presses  a  wild,  motley  throng — 

Men  from  the  Volga  and  the  Tartar  steppes, 

Featureless  figures  of  the  Hoang-Ho, 

Malayan,  Scythian,  Teuton,  Celt,  and  Slav, 

Flying  the  old  world's  poverty  and  scorn; 

These  bringing  with  them  unknown  gods  and  rites. 

Those,  tigor  passions,  here  to  stretch  their  claws. 

In   street  and   alley   what   strange  tongues  are  these, 

Accents  of  menace  alien  to  our  air. 

Voices  that  once  the  Tower  of  Babel  knew! 

O  Liberty,  White  Goddess!  is  it  well 

To  leave  the  gates  unguarded?    On  thy  breast 

Fold  Sorrow's  children,  soothe  the  hurts  of  fat.'. 

Lift  the  downtrodden,  but  with  the  hand  of  steel 

Stay  those  who  to  thy  sacred  portals  come 

To  waste  the  gifts  of  freedom.    Have  a  care 

Lest  from  thy  brow  the  clustered  stars  be  torn 

And  trampled  in  the  dust.    For  so  of  old 

The  thronging  Goth  and  Vandal  trampled  Pome. 

And  where  the  temples  of  the  Cssars  stoc  ' 

The  lean  wolf  unmolested  made  her  lair 

— Thomas  Bail  ";, 


'      L^    <i    rt    "'     > 

ti  6  /  j  0  i>  ^J 


TO  ONE  WHO 

CHERISHES  AMERICAN 

IDEALS,    WHO    HAS    INCULCATED   LOVE    OF 

COUNTRY  IN  HEr    CHILDREN,  AND 

SOUGHT  -^        ASPIRE  IT  IN 

A        -MY   WIFE 


CONTENTS 

Chapter                                                                    Page 
Preface  7 

Introduction,  by  Josiah  Strong 1 1 

I.    The  Alien  Advance 15 

II.    Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 51* 

III.  Problems  of  Legislation  and  Distribution    87 

IV.  The  New  Immigration 121 

V.    The  Eastern  Invasion 157 

VI.    The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City 193 

VII.    Immigration  ani  the  National  Character  231   » 
VIII.    The  Homf  M:«sion  Opportunity 267 


B. 
C. 


APPENDIXES 

Tables  of  Immigration,  Exclusion,  and 
Racial  Elements 302 

The  Immigration  Laws 306 

Work  of  Leading  Denominations  for  the 
Foreign  Population 311 

Bibliography   318 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Coming  Americans  Frontispiece 

The  Inflowing  Tide Facing  page  i8 

Ellis  Island  Immigrant  Station "  "  34 

Receiving  Room  at  Ellis  Island "  "  59 

Detained  for  Special  Examination...  "  "  74 
An  Appeal  from  the  Special  Inquiry 

Board  "  "  94 

The  Landing  at  the  Battery  in  New 

York    "  "  102 

A  German  Family "  "  128 

Italian  AND  Swiss  Girls "  "  144 

A  Group  of  Twelve  Different  Nation- 
alities    "  "  166 

Three  Types  of  Immigrants "  "  180 

A  Group  of  Immigrants  Just  Arrived.  .  "  "  198 
An  Italian  Family  Crowded  in  a  New 

York   Tenement "  "  210 

Four  Nationalities "  "  236 

Portuguese  AND  Spanish  Children "  "  256 

An  Italian  Sunday  School  in   New 

England  "  "  283 

Sketch  Maps  and  Charts 

Chart  Showing  Wave  of  Immigration  for 

Eighty-Six  Years Page    32 

Chart  Showing  Distribution  of  Immi- 
grants BY  States  for  1905 "    106 

D^  'iRAMS  Showing  Immigrant  Distribution 

BY  Various  Races,  108,  109,  114,  115,  146,       "    171 

Chart    Showing   Changes   in    Sources   of 

Immigration    "    125 

Map  Showing  Countries  from  which  the 

Slavs  Come "     161 

Chart  Showing  Distribution  of  Slavs  in 

America    "     163 

Colored  Chart  Showing  Races  of  Immi- 
grants FOR  1905 End 


PREFACE. 


It  is  not  a  question  as  to  whether  the  aliens 
will  come.  They  have  come,  millions  of  them; 
they  are  now  coming,  at  the  rate  of  a  million  a 
year.  They  come  from  every  clime,  country,  and 
condition ;  and  they  are  of  every  sort :  good,  bad, 
and  indifferent,  literate  and  illiterate,  virtuous 
and  vicious,  ambitious  and  aimless,  strong  and 
weak,  skilled  and  unskilled,  married  and  single, 
old  and  young,  Christian  and  infidel,  Jew  and 
pagan.  •  They  form  to-day  the  raw  material  of 
the  American  citizenship  of  to-morrow.  What 
they  will  be  and  do  lb  en  depends  largely  upon 
what  our  American  Protestant  Christianity  does 
for  them  now. 

Immigration — the  foreign  peoples  in  America, 
who  and  where  they  are,  whence  they  come,  and 
what  under  our  laws  and  liberties  and  influences 
they  are  likely  to  become — this  is  the  subject  of 
our  study.  The  subject  is  as  fascinating  as  it  is 
vital.  Its  problems  are  by  far  the  most  pressing, 
serious,  and  perplexing  with  which  the  American 
people  have  to  do.  It  is  high  time  that  our  young 
people  were  familiarizing  themselves  with  the 
facts,  for  this  is  preeminently  the  question  of 
to-day.    Patriotisi.i  and  religion — love  of  country 


8 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


and  love  of  Christ — unite  to  urge  thoughtful 
consideration  of  this  great  question:  Aliens  or 
Americans  ?  One  aim  of  this  book  is  to  show  our 
individual  responsibility  for  the  answer,  and  how 
we  can  discharge  it. 

Immigration  may  be  regarded  as  a  peril  or  a 
providence,  an  ogre  or  an  obligation — according 
to  the  point  of  view.  The  Christian  ought  to  see 
in  it  the  unmistakable  hand  of  God  opening  wide 
the  door  of  evangelistic  opportunity.  Through 
foreign  missions  we  are  sending  the  gospel  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth.  As  a  home  mission  God  is 
sending  the  ends  of  the  earth  to  our  shores  and 
very  doors.  The  author  is  a  Christian  optimist 
who  believes  God  has  a  unique  mission  for 
Christian  America,  and  that  it  will  ultimately  be 
fulfilled.  While  the  facts  are  in  many  ways 
appalling,  the  result  of  his  study  of  the  foreign 
peoples  in  our  country  has  made  him  hopeful 
concerning  their  Americanization  and  evangeliza- 
tion, if  only  American  Christians  are  awake  and 
faithful  to  their  duty.  The  Christian  young 
people,  brought  to  realize  that  immigration  is 
another  way  of  spellinf;^  o1:)li station,  must  do  their 
part  to  remove  that  tremendous  IF. 

These  newcomers  are  in  reality  a  challenge  to 
American  Christianity.  The  challenge  is  clear 
and  imperative.  Will  we  give  the  gospel  to  the 
heathen  in  America?  Will  we  extend  the  hand 
of  Christian  brotherhood  and  helpfulness  to  the 


Preface 


9 


stranger  within  our  gates  ?  Will  we  Christianize, 
which  is  the  only  real  way  to  Americanize,  the 
Aliens?  May  this  book  help  to  inspire  the  truly 
Christian  answer  that  shall  mean  much  for  the 
future  of  our  country,  and  hence  of  the  world. 

The  author  makes  grateful  acknowledgment 
to  all  who  have  assisted  by  suggestion  or  other- 
wise. He  has  tried  to  give  credit  to  the  authors 
whose  works  he  has  used.  He  is  under  special 
obligation  for  counsel  and  many  courtesies  to 
Josiah  Strong,  one  of  the  modern  patriot- 
prophets  who  has  sought  to  awaken  Americans 
10  their  Christian  duty  and  privilege. 

Howard  B.  Grose. 

Briar  cliff  Manor,  June,  1906. 


INTRODUCTION 


A  million  immigrants! 
A  million  opportunities! 
A  million  obligations! 

This  in  brief  is  the  message  of  Aliens  or 
Americans  f 

A  young  man  who  came  to  this  country  young 
enough  to  get  the  benefit  of  our  public  schools, 
and  who  then  took  a  course  in  Columbia  Univer- 
sity, writes:  "Now,  at  twenty-one,  I  am  a  free 
American,  with  only  one  strong  desire ;  and  that 
is  to  do  something  for  my  fellow-men,  so  that 
when  my  time  comes  to  leave  the  world,  I  may 
leave  it  a  bit  the  better."  These  are  the  words 
of  a  Russian  Jew;  and  that  Russian  is  a  better 
American,  that  Jew  is  a  better  Christian,  than 
many  a  descendant  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers. 

In  this  country  every  man  is  an  American  who 
has  American  ideals,  the  American  spirit, 
American  conceptions  of  life,  American  habits. 
A  man  is  foreign  not  because  he  was  born  in  a 
foreign  land,  but  because  he  clings  to  foreign 
customs  and  ideas. 

I  do  not  fear  foreigners  half  so  much  as  I 
fear  Americans  who  impose  on  them  and  brutally 
abuse  them.    Such  Americans  are  the  most  dan- 

11 


12 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


gerous  enemies  to  our  institutions,  utterly  foreign 
to  their  true  spirit.  Such  Americans  are  the 
real  foreigners. 

Most  of  those  who  come  to  us  are  predisposed 
in  favor  of  our  institutions.  They  are  generally 
unacquainted  with  the  true  character  of  those 
institutions,  l-ut  they  all  know  that  America  is 
the  land  of  freedom  and  of  plenty,  and  they  are 
favorably  inclined  toward  the  ideas  and  the 
obligations  which  are  bound  up  with  these  bless- 
ings. They  are  open  to  American  influence,  and 
quickly  respond  to  a  new  and  a  better  environ- 
ment. 

They  naturally  look  up  to  us,  and  if  with  fair 
and  friendly  treatment  we  win  their  confidence, 
they  are  easily  transformed  into  enthusiastic 
Americans.  But  if  by  terms  of  opprobrium,  such 
as  "sheeny"  and  "dago,"  we  convince  them  that 
they  are  held  ir  contempt,  and  if  by  oppression 
and  fraud  we  render  them  suspicious  of  us,  we 
can  easily  compact  them  into  masses,  hostile  to 
us  and  dangerous  to  our  institutions  and  or- 
ganized for  the  express  purpose  of  resisting  all 
Americanizing  influences. 

Whether  immigrants  remain  Aliens  or  become 
Americans  depends  less  on  them  than  on  our- 
selves. 

JosiAH  Strong. 

New  York,  June  26,  1906. 


We  may  well  ask  whether  this  insweep- 
ing  immigration  is  to  foreignise  us,  or 
we  are  to  Americanise  it.  Our  safety 
demands  the  assimilation  of  these  strange 
populations,  and  the  process  of  assimila- 
tion becomes  slower  and  more  difficult 
as  the  prof^rtion  of  foreigners  increases. 
— Josiah  Strong. 


THE  ALIEN  ADVANCE 


15 


"And  Elisha  prayed,  and  said,  Jehovah,  I  pray  thee, 
open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see.  And  Jehovah  opened  the 
eyes  of  the  young  man:  and  he  saw"  (2  Kings  vi.  17). 
Elisha's  prayer  is  peculiarly  fitting  now.  The  first 
need  of  American  Protestantism  is  for  clear  vision,  to 
discern  the  supreme  issues  involved  in  immigration, 
recognize  the  spiritual  significance  and  divine  providence 
in  and  behind  this  marvelous  migration  of  peoples,  and 
so  sec  Christian  obligation  as  to  rise  to  the  mission  of 
evangelizing  these  representatives  of  all  nations  gathered 
on  American  soil. — The  Author. 

Out  of  the  remote  and  little-known  regions  of 
northern,  eastern,  and  southern  Europe  forever 
marches  a  vast  and  endless  army.  Nondescript  and 
ever-changing  in  personnel,  without  leaders  or  organiza- 
tion, this  great  force,  moving  at  the  rate  of  nearly 
1,500,000  each  year,  is  invading  the  civilized  world. 
— /.  D.  Whelpley. 

Political  optimism  is  one  of  the  vices  of  the  Ameri- 
can people.  There  is  a  popular  faith  that  "God  takes 
care  of  children,  fools,  and  the  United  States."  Until 
within  a  few  years  probably  not  one  in  a  hundred  of 
our  population  has  ever  questioned  the  security  of  our 
future.  Such  optimism  is  as  senseless  as  pessimism  is 
faithless.  The  one  is  as  foolish  as  the  other  is  wicked. 
— Josiah  Strong. 


thee, 
Ithe 

17). 
first 
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and 
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and 
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arid. 


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akes 
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m  is 
:ked. 


THE  ALIEN  ADVANCE 

/.    A  Year's  Immigration  Analysed 

"'^T^HAT  does  a  million  of  immigrants  a  year  a  Miiaon 

mean?  Possibly  something  of  more  sig-  ■  ^**'' 
nificance  to  us  if  we  put  it  this  way,  that  at 
present  one  in  every  eigiity  persons  in  the  entire 
United  States  has  arrived  from  foreign  shores 
within  twelve  months.  Of  this  inpouring  human 
tide  one  of  the  latest  writers  on  immigration  says, 
in  a  striking  passage: 

"Like  a  mighty  stream,  it  finds  its  source  in  a  The  Peaceful 
hundred  rivulets.  The  huts  of  the  mountains  and 
the  hovels  of  the  plains  are  the  springs  which 
feed ;  the  fecundity  of  the  races  of  the  old  world 
the  inexhaustible  source.  It  is  a  march  the  like 
of  which  the  world  has  never  seen,  and  the 
moving  columns  are  animated  by  but  one  idea — 
that  of  escaping  from  evils  which  have  made 
existence  intolerable,  and  of  reaching  the  free  air 
of  countries  where  conditions  are  better  shaped 
to  the  welfare  of  the  masses  of  the  people. 

"It  is  a  vast  procession  of  varied  humanity. 
In  tongue  it  is  polyglot ;  in  dress  all  climes  from 

17 


Inva>ion 


Variety  of 
Peoples 


28 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  ElliB 
Uland  Inflow 


pole  to  equator  are  indicated,  and  all  religions 
and  beliefs  enlist  their  followers.  There  is  no 
age  limit,  for  young  and  old  travel  side  by  side. 
There  is  no  sex  limitation,  for  the  women  are  as 
keen  as,  if  not  more  so  than,  the  men ;  and  babes 
in  arms  are  here  in  no  mean  numbers.  The  army 
carries  its  equipment  on  i^  back,  but  in  no  pre- 
scribed form.  The  allowance  is  meager,  it  is 
true,  but  the  household  gods  of  a  family  sprung 
from  the  same  soil  as  a  hundred  previous  genera- 
tions may  possibly  be  contained  in  shapeless  bags 
or  bundles.  Forever  moving,  always  in  the  same 
direction,  this  marching  army  comes  out  of  the 
shadow,  converges  to  natural  points  of  distribu- 
tion, masses  along  the  international  highways, 
and  its  vanguard  disappears,  absorbed  where  it 
finds  a  resting-place."^ 

See  the  living  stream  pour  into  America 
through  the  raceway  of  Ellis  Island.'  There  is 
no  such  sight  to  be  seen  elsewh  :re  on  the  planet. 
Suppose  for  the  moment  that  all  the  immigrants 
of  1905  came  in  by  that  wiue  open  way,  as  eight 
tenths  of  them  actually  did.  If  your  station  had 
been  by  that  gateway,  where  you  could  watch  the 
human  tide  flowing  through,  and  if  the  stream 
had  been  steady,  on  every  day  of  the  365  you 
would  have  seen  more  than  2,800  living  beings — 
men,  women,  and  children,  of  almost  every  con- 

>  J.  D.  Whelpley,  The  Problem  tftkt  Immigrant,  X 
'  Entrance  Port  for  Immigrants  at  New  York. 


I'roiii  luiii/riylil  slirio'irdiih,  \9"\.  '>>/  Viiilenroiiil  ,V-  VmUrnmil.  Sin    Viirk 

Tin;    l\Ki.<>\Vi\<;    Tii>K. 


The  Alien  Advance  19 

ceivable  condition  except  that  of  wealth  or 
eminence — pass  frc.n  the  examination  "pens" 
into  tne  liberty  of  Americ.*ii  opportunity.  Since 
the  stream  was  spasmodic,  its  numbers  did  reach 
as  high  in  a  single  day  As  1 1 ,343. 

Imagine  an  army  of  nearly  20,000  a  week  AMotuy 
marching  in  upon  an  unprotected  country.  At  •••^•••'•n 
the  head  come  the  motley  and  strange-looking 
migrants — largely  refugee  Jews — from  the  far 
Russian  Empire  and  the  regions  of  Hungary  and 
Roumania.  At  the  daily  rate  of  2,800  it  would 
take  this  indescribable  assortment  more  than  166 
days  to  pass  in  single  file.  Then  the  Italians 
would  consume  about  eighty  days  more.  For 
over  eight  months  you  would  have  watched  so 
large  a  proportion  of  illiteracy,  incompetency,  and 
insensibility  to  American  ideals,  that  you  would 
be  tempted  to  despair  of  the  Republic.  Nor 
would  you  lose  the  sense  of  nightmare  when  the 
English  and  Irish  were  consuming  forty-two  days 
in  passing,  for  the  "green"  of  the  Emerald  Isle 
is  vivid  at  Ellis  Island,  and  the  best  class  of  the 
English  stay  at  home.  The  flaxen-haired  and 
open-faced  Scandinavians  would  lighten  the  pic- 
ture, but  with  the  equally  sturdy  Germans  they 
would  get  by  in  only  a  month  and  four  days. 

This  much  is  certain,  whatever  may  be  thought   a  Proeet*  of 
of  the  fanciful  procession.     No  American  viho  """f*"*'"- 

xncnt 

spends  a  single  day  at  Ellis  Island,  when  the 
loaded  steamships  have  come  in,  will  afterward 


20 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Graphic 
Grouping 


require  awakening  on  the  subject  of  immigration 
and  the  necessity  of  doing  something  effective  in 
the  way  of  Americanization.  A  good  view  of  the 
steerage  is  the  best  possible  enlightener. 

A  million  a  year  and  more  is  the  rate  at  which 
immigrants   are   now   coming   into   the   United 
States.i    It  is  not  easy  to  grasp  the  significance 
of  such  numbers :  yet  we  must  try  to  do  so  if  we 
are  to  realize  the  problem  to  be  solved.    To  get 
this  mass  of  varied  humanity  within  the  mind's 
eye,  let  us  divide  and  group  it.    First,  recall  some 
small  city  or  town  with  which  you  are  familiar,  of 
about  lo.ooo  inhabitants;  say  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  where  the  treaty  of  peace  between 
Japan  and  Russia  was  agreed  upon ;  or  Saratoga 
Springs,  New  York;  or  Vincennes,  Indiana;  or 
Ottawa,  Illinois ;  or  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota ; 
or  Lawrence,  Kansas.    Settle  one  hundred  towns 
of   this    size    with    immigrants,    mostly    of   the 
peasant  class,  with  their  un-American  languages, 
customs,  religion,  dress,  and  ideas,  and  you  would 
locate  merely  those  who  came  from  Europe  and 
Asia  in  the  year  ending  June  30,  1905.     Those 
who  came  from  other  parts  of  the  world  would 
make  two  and  a  half  towns  more,  or  a  city  the 
size   of    Poughkeepsie    in    New   York,    seat   of 
Vassar  College,  or  Burlington  in  Iowa,  of  about 
25,000  each. 

»The  predictions  for  the  year  ending  June  32.  '9o6.  indeed,  jogging 
from  the  first  eight  months,  are  an  immigration  total  of  1,250,000,  with  no 
abatement  in  prospect. 


The  Alien  Advance 


21 


Gather  these  immigrants  by  nationality,  and  Grouped  by 
you  would  have  in  round  numbers  twenty-two  Nationality 
Italian  cities  of  lo.ooo  people,  or  massed  to- 
gether, a  purely  Italian  city  as  large  as  Minne- 
apolis with  its  220,000.  The  various  peoples  of 
Austria-Hungary — Bohemians,  Magyars,  Jews, 
and  Slavs — would  fill  twenty-seven  and  one  half 
towns ;  or  a  single  city  nearly  as  large  as  Detroit. 
The  Jews,  Poles,  and  other  races  fleeing  from 
persecution  in  Russia,  would  people  eighteen 
and  one  half  towns,  or  a  city  the  size  of  Provi- 
dence. For  the  remainder  we  should  have  four 
German  cities  of  10,000  people,  five  of  Scandi- 
navians, one  of  French,  one  of  Greeks,  one  of 
Japanese,  six  and  a  half  of  English,  five  of 
Irish,  and  nearly  two  of  Scotch  and  Welsh. 
Then  we  should  have  seven  towns  of  between  Quee' Towns 
4,000  and  5,000  each,  peopled  respectively  by 
Belgians,  Danes,  Dutch,  Portuguese,  Rouman- 
ians, Swiss,  and  European  Turks ;  while  Asian 
Turks  would  fill  another  town  of  6.000.  We 
should  have  a  Servian,  Bulgarian,  and  Monteneg- 
rin village  of  2,000;  a  Spanish  village  of  2,000; 
a  Chinese  village  of  2,900 ;  and  the  other  Asiatics 
would  fill  up  a  town  of  5,000  with  as  motley  an 
assortment  as  could  be  found  under  the  sky. 
Nor  are  we  done  with  the  settling  as  yet,  for  the 
West  Indian  immigrants  would  make  a  city  of 
16,600,  the  South  Americans  and  Mexicans  a 
place  of  5,000,  the  Canadians  a  2,000  village,  and 


22 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Grouped  by 
Illiteracy 


the  Australians  another;  leaving  a  colony  of 
stragglers  and  strays,  the  ends  of  creation,  to 
the  number  of  2,000  more.  Place  yourself  in 
any  one  of  these  hundred  odd  cities  or  villages 
thus  peopled,  without  a  single  American  inhabit- 
ant, with  everything  foreign,  including  religion ; 
then  realize  that  just  such  a  foreign  population 
as  is  presented  by  all  these  places  has  actually 
been  put  somewhere  in  this  country  within  a 
twelvemonth,  and  the  immigration  problem  may 
assume  a  new  aspect  and  take  on  a  new 
concern. 

But  let  us  carry  our  imagination  a  little 
further.  Suppose  we  bring  together  into  one 
place  the  illiterates  of  1905 — the  immigrants  of 
all  nationalities,  over  fourteen  years  of  age,  who 
could  neither  read  nor  write.  They  would  make 
a  city  as  large  as  Jersey  City  or  Kansas  City, 
and  15,000  larger  than  Indianapolis.  Think  of 
a  population  of  230,000  with  no  use  for  book, 
paper,  ink,  pen,  or  printing  press.  This  mass 
of  dense  ignorance  was  distributed  some  way 
within  a  year,  and  more  illiterates  are  coming  in 
by  every  steamer.  Divide  this  city  of  ignorance 
by  nationalities  into  wards,  and  there  would  be 
an  Italian  ward  of  100,000,  far  outnumbering  all 
others;  in  other  words,  the  Italian  illiterates 
landed  in  America  in  a  year  equal  the  population 
of  Albany,  capital  of  the  Empire  State.  The 
other  leading  wards  would  be:  Polish,  33,000; 


The  Alien  Advance 


Hebrew,  22,000,  indicating  the  low  conditions 
whence  they  came;  Slav,  36,000;  Magyar  and 
Lithuanian,  12,000;  Syrian  and  Turkish,  3,000. 
These  regiments  of  non-readers  and  writers 
come  almost  exclusively  from  the  south  and  east 
of  Europe.  Of  the  large  total  of  illiterates, 
230,882  to  be  exact — it  is  noteworthy  that  only 
seventy-five  were  Scotch;  and  only  157  were 
Scandinavian,  out  of  the  more  than  60,000  from 
Norway,  Sweden,  and  Denmark.  That  almost 
one  quarter  of,  a  total  million  of  newcomers 
should  be  unable  to  read  or  write  ^«  certainly  a 
fact  to  be  taken  into  account,  and  one  that 
throws  a  calcium  light  the  general  quality  of 
present-day  immigratic  and  the  educational 
status  of  the  countries  from  which  they  come. 
Illiteracy  is  a  worse  reflection  upon  the  foreign 
government  than  upon  the  foreign  immigrant. 

To  complete  this  grouping,  we  should  go  one  The  Army  of 
step  further,  and  make  up  a  number  of  divisions 
according  to  occupation  and  no-occupation, 
skilled  and  unskilled  labor.  To  begin  with,  the 
unskilled  laborers  would  fill  a  city  of  430,000,  or 
about  the  size  of  Cincinnati.  Those  classified  as 
servants,  with  a  fair  question  mark  as  to  the 
amount  of  skill  possessed,  numbered  125,000 
more,  equal  to  the  population  of  New  Haven. 
Those  classified  as  without  occupation,  including 
the  children  under  four<-^en,  numbered  232,000, 
equal  to  the  population  of  Louisville.    Gathering 


the  Unskilled 


24 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Whole  States 
Equaled   in 
Numbers 


into  one  great  body,  then,  what  may  fairly  be 
called  unskilled  labor,  the  total  is  not  far  from 
780,000  out  of  the  1,026,499  who  came.  This 
mass  would  fill  a  city  the  size  of  Boston,  Cam- 
bridge, and  Lynn  combined,  or  of  Cleveland  and 
Washington.  Imagine,  if  you  can,  what  kind  of 
a  city  it  would  be,  and  contrast  that  with  these 
centers  of  civilization  as  they  now  are. 

To  put  all  the  emphasis  possible  upon  these 
facts,  consider  that  the  immigration  of  a  single 
year  exceeded  by  26,000  the  population  of  Con- 
necticut, which  has  been  settled  and  growing 
ever  since  early  colonial  days.  It  exceeded  by 
37,000  the  combined  population  of  Alaska, 
Arizona,  Nevuda,  Idaho,  Wyoming,  and  Utah, 
These  immigrants  would  have  repopulated  whole 
commonwealths,  but  they  would  hardly  be  called 
cofnmon wealths  in  that  case.  If  such  immigrant 
distribution  could  be  made,  how  quickly  would 
the  imperative  necessity  of  Americanization  be 
realized.  The  Italians  who  came  during  the 
year  would  exceed  the  combined  population  of 
Alaska  and  Wyoming.  The  Hungarians  and 
Slavs  would  replace  the  present  population  of 
New  Hampshire,  or  of  North  Dakota,  and  equal 
that  of  Vermont  and  Wyoming  together.  The 
Russian  Jews  and  Finlanders  would  replace  the 
people  of  Arizona.  The  army  of  illiterates  would 
repeople  Delaware  and  Nevada.  And  the  much 
larger  army  of  the  unskilled  would  exceed  by 


The  Alien  Advance 


25 


50,000  the  population  of  Maine,  that  of  Colorado 
by  about  80,000,  and  twice  that  of  the  District  of 
Columbia. 

The  diagram  at  the  end  of  the  book,  taken  The  Race 
from  the  Report  of  the  Commissioner-General  P^portio^' 
of  Immigration  for  1905.  will  help  us  to  fix  in 
mind  the  race  proportions  of  the  present  immi- 
gration. The  increase  of  1905  over  1904  was 
213,629.  Almost  one  half  of  this  was  from 
Austria-Hungary,  and  all  of  it  was  from  four 
countries,  the  other  three  being  Russia,  Italy, 
and  the  United  Kingdom.  There  was  a  decrease 
from  Germany,  Sweden,  and  Norway. 

II.     The  It' m>  Since  1820 
We  have  been  considering  thus  far  the  immi-   immigration 
gration  of  a  single  year.     To  make  the  effect   Totais  since 
of  this   survey   cumulative,   let   us   include   the 
totals    of    immigration    from    the    first. ^       The 
official  records  begin  with  1820.    It  is  estimated 
that  prior  to  that  date  the  total  number  of  alien 
arrivals  was  250,000.    In  1820  there  were  8,385 
newcomers,   less  than  sometimes  land   at  Ellis 
Island  in  a  single  day  now,  and  they  came  chiefly 
from   three   nations — Great    Britain,    German>, 
and  Sweden.     The  stream  gradually  increased, 
but  with  many  fluctuations,  governed  largely  by 
the    economic   conditions.     Tlie   highest   immi- 
gration prior  to  the  potato  famine  in  Ireland  in 


*For  table  showing  immigration  for  each  year  from  1820   to   igos. 
Appendix  A. 


see 


26 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Totals 
by  Decadea 


1847  was  in  the  year  1842,  when  the  total  for  the 
first  time  passed  the  100,000  mark,  being  104,565. 
In  1849  the  number  leaped  to  297,024,  with  a 
large  proportion  of  the  whole  from  Ireland;  in 
1850  it  was  310,000;  while  1854  was  the  high 
year  of  that  period,  with  427,833.  Then  came  the 
panic  and  financial  depression  in  America,  and 
after  that  the  civil  war,  which  sent  the  immigra- 
tion figures  down.  It  was  not  until  1866,  after 
the  war  was  over,  that  the  total  again  rose  to 
300,000.  In  1872  it  was  404,806;  in  1873,  459,- 
803;  falling  back  then  until  1880,  when  a  high 
period  set  in.  The  totals  of  1881  (669,431)  and 
of  1882  (788,992)  were  not  again  equaled  until 
1903,  when  for  the  first  time  the  800,000  mark 
was  passed. 

Taking  the  figures  by  decades,  we  have  this 
enlightening  table: 

(1 1821  to  1830  143.439 

1831  to  1840  599.125 

1841  to  1850  1,713.251 

1851  to  i860  2,598,214 

1861  to  1870  2,314,824 

1871  to  t88o  2,812,191 

i88i  to  1890  5,246,613 

1891  to  1900  3,687,564 

1901  to  1905  3,833,076 

Total,  1821  to   1905 22,948,297 

From  this  it  appears  that  more  aliens  landed 
in  the  single  decade  from  1880  to  1890  than  in 


The  Alien  Advance 


27 


the  period  of  forty-five  years  from  1820  to  1865. 
Indeed,  the  immigration  of  the  past  six  years 
more  than  outnumbers  that  of  the  forty  years 
from  1820  to  i860. 

Thus,  from  colonial  days  above  twenty-three 
millions  ol  aliens  have  been  received  upon  these 
hospitable  shores.  And  more  than  thirteen 
millions  of  them  have  come  since  1880,  or  in  the 
last  quarter  century.  No  wonder  it  is  said  that 
the  invasion  of  Attila  and  his  Huns  was  but  a 
side  incident  compared  to  this  modern  migration 
of  the  millions. 

Canada,  our  northern  neighbor,  is  a  prosper- 
ous colony  of  5,371,315,  according  to  her  latest 
census.  We  could  almost  have  peopled  Canada 
entire  with  as  large  a  population  out  of  the  immi- 
gration of  the  decade  18801890.  More  than 
that,  the  whole  population  of  Scotland,  or  that  of 
Ireland,  above  four  and  a  quarter  millions,  could 
have  moved  over  to  America,  and  it  would  only 
have  equaled  the  actual  immigration  since  1900. 
If  the  whole  of  Wales  w^ere  to  come  over,  the 
1,700,000  odd  of  them  would  not  have  equaled 
by  100,000  the  total  immigration  of  the  two  years 
1904-05.  If  all  Sweden  and  Norway  packed  up 
and  left  the  question  of  one  or  two  kingdoms  to 
settle  itself,  the  7,300,000  sturdy  Scandinavians 
would  fall  short  of  the  immigrant  host  that  has 
come  in  from  everywhither  since  1891.  More 
people  than  the  entire  population  of  Switzerland 


A    Startling 
Total  of 
33,000,000 


Impressive 
Comparisoas 


1 


28 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Problem 
of  Assimila- 
tion 


(3.315.000)  ^^ave  landed  in  America  within  four 
years.  If  only  the  majority  of  these  aliens  had 
possessed  the  love  of  liberty  and  the  character- 
istic virtues  of  the  Protestant  Swiss,  our  problem 
would  be  very  diflferent.  These  comparisons 
strongly  impress  the  responsibility  and  burden 
imposed  upon  America  by  practically  free  and 
wide-open  gates. 

Here  are  the  totals  which  we  have  now 
reached.  Of  the  23,000,000  aliens  who  have 
come  into  America  since  the  Revolution,  the  last 
census  (1900)  gave  the  number  then  living  at 
10,256,664.  A  census  taken  to-day  would  doubt- 
less show  about  14,000,000.  Add  the  children 
of  foreign  parentage  and  it  would  bring  the 
total  up  to  between  35,000,000  and  40,000,000. 
Mr.  Sargent  estimates  this  total  at  forty-six  per 
cent,  of  our  entire  population.  The  immigration 
problem  presents  nothing  less  than  the  assimila- 
tion of  this  vast  mass  of  humanity.  No  wonder 
thoughtful  Americans  stand  aghast  before  it. 
At  the  same  time,  the  only  thing  to  fear  is  fail- 
ure to  understand  the  situation  and  meet  it.  As 
Professor  Boyesen  says :  "The  amazing  thing  in 
Americans  is  their  utter  indifference  or  supine 
optimism.  'Don't  you  worry,  old  fellow,'  said  a 
very  intelligent  professional  man  to  me  recently, 
when  I  told  him  of  my  observations  during  a  visit 
to  Castle  Garden.!  'What  does  it  matter  whether 


'Now  known  as  the  Battery.    See  footnote  i,  p.  54. 


The  Alien  Advance 


29 


a  1. '.n  Ired  thousand  more  or  less  arrive?  Even 
if  a  million  arrived  annually,  or  two  millions,  I 
guess  we  could  take  care  of  them.  Why,  this 
country  is  capable  of  supporting  a  population 
of  two  hundred  millions  without  being  half  so 
densely  populated  as  Belgium.  Only  let  them 
come — the  more  the  merrier!'  I  believe  this 
state  of  mind  is  fairly  typical.  It  is  tlie  subliine 
but  dangerous  optimism  of  a  rice  which  has 
never  been  confronted  with  serious  problems." 
But  we  believe  it  is  the  optimism  of  a  race  which, 
when  fairly  brought  face  to  face  with  crises, 
will  not  fail  to  meet  them  in  the  same  spirit  that 
has  won  the  victories  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
and  established  a  free  government  of,  by,  and  for 
the  people  in  America. 

///.     Why  They  Come 

.  The  causes  of  immigration  are  variously  The  causes  of 
stated,  but  compressed  into  three  words  they  *»«"'»'"•«»  ' 
are:  Attraction,  Expulsion,  Solicitation.  The 
attraction  comes  from  the  United  States,  the 
expulsion  from  the  Old  World,  and  the  solicita- 
tion from  the  great  transportation  lines  and  their 
emissaries.  I  Sometimes  one  cause  is  more  potent, 
sometimes'  another.  Of  late,  racial  and  religious 
persecution  has  been  active  in  Europe,  and 
America  gets  the  results.  "In  Russia  there  is  an 
outbreak,  hideous  and  savage,  against  the  Jew, 
and   an   impulse   is   started   whose   end   is  not 


30 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Bxpuiiion  reached  until  you  strike  Rivington  Street  in  the 
glietto  of  New  York.  The  work  begun  in  Russia 
ends  in  the  seventeenth  ward  of  New  York." 
Cause  and  effect  are  manifest.  Military  service 
is  enforced  in  Italy;  taxes  rise,  overpopulation 
presses,  poverty  swells.  As  a  result,  the  stream 
flows  toward  America,  where  there  is  no  military 
service  and  no  tax,  and  where  steady  work  and 

Attmction  h'g'i  wages  seem  assured.  ,^The  mighty  magnet 
is  the  attractiveness  of  America,  real  or  pictured. 
America  is  the  magic  word  throughout  all 
Europe.  No  hamlet  so  remote  that  the  name  has 
not  penetrated  its  peasant  obscurity.  America 
means  two  things— money  and  liberty— the  two 
things  which  the  European  peasant  (and  often 
prince  as  well)  lacks  and  wants.  Necessity  at 
home  pushes;  opportunity  in  America  pullsT 
Commissioner  Robert  Watchorn,  of  the  port  of 
New  York,  packs  the  explanation  into  an  epi- 
gram: "American  wages  are  the  honey-pot  that 
brings  the  alien  flies."  He  says  further:  "If  a 
steel  mill  were  to  start  in  a  Mississippi  swamp 
paying  wages  of  $2  a  day,  the  news  would  hum 
through  foreign  lands  in  a  month,  and  that 
swamp  would  become  a  beehive  of  humanity  and 
industry  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time." 
^Dr.  A.  F.  Schauffler  says,  with  equal  pith,  that 
,  "the  great  cause  of  immigration  is,  after  all,  that 
the  immigrants  propose  to  better  themselves  in 
this  country.    They  come  here  not  because  they 


Solicitation 


The  Alien  Advance 


3« 


love  us,  or  because  we  love  them.  They  come 
here  because  they  can  do  themselves  good,  not 
because  they  can  do  us  good."*  That  is  natural 
and  true;  and  it  turnishes  excellent  reason  why 
we  must  do  them  good  in  order  that  they  may  not 
do  us  evil.  To  make  their  good  ours  and  our 
good  theirs  is  both  Qiristian  and  safe. 

The   three   causes   produce    three   classes   of   Three  ciaates 
immigrants:    i.  Natural;   2.    Assisted;    and    3. 
Solicited 

The  prosperity  of  this  country  has  undoubtedly   Normal 
chieflv  influencerl  immigration  in  the  past.    This   »*«»*'''«••«>'* 

•      .         ,      .  Conditione 

is  shown  by  the  marked  relationship  between 
industrial  and  commercial  activity  in  the  United 
States  and  the  volume  of  immigration.^  Our 
prosperity  not  only  induces  desire  to  come  but 
makes  coming  possible.  The  testimony  before 
the  Industrial  Commission  showed  that  from 
forty  to  forty-five  pe-  cent,  of  the  immigrants 
have  their  passage  prepaid  by  friends  or  relatives 
in  this  country,  and  from  ten  to  twenty-five  per 
cent,  more  buy  their  tickets  abroad  with  money 
sent  from  the  United  States.  In  1902  between 
$65,000,000  and  $70,000,000  was  sent  home  to 
Italy  alone  from  the  United  States,  and  the 
stream  of  earnings  flowing  out  to  Ireland  and 

'  City  Mission  Monthly,  April,  igoa. 

'Those  who  are  infeiested  in  this  feature  can  trace— by  examining  the 
table  In  the  Appendix  which  gives  the  immigration  by  years  since  ii2cr— 
the  relation  between  prosperity  and  immigration.  The  effect  of  the 
panics  of  1837,  1843,  '87:1,  i8g3,  and  the  depression  caused  by  the  Civil 
War,  will  b*;  seen  clearly  in  the  immigration  totals.  This  subject  is 
treated  in  Immigration,  17  ff. 


The  Alien  Advance 


33 


5 
S 

} 

i 

I 
t 


? 

JL 


m 


> 


Germany  and  Sweden  and  Hungary  has  been 
not  less  steady.  American  prosperity  has  been 
feeding  and  paying  taxes  for  millions  of  people 
who  owe  far  more  to  our  government  than  to 
their  own.  and  foreign  governments  have  been 
reaping  the  benefit.  The  United  States  has  a 
small  standing  army  of  its  own,  but  through  the 
gold  sent  abroad  by  the  alien  wage  earners  here 
we  have  been  helping  maintain  the  vast  arma- 
ments of  Europe.  The  letters  and  the  money 
sent  by  immigrants  to  the  home  folks  awaken  the 
desires  and  dreams  that  mean  more  immigrants. 
The  United  States  Post-office  is  a  marvelous 
immigration  agent  in  Europe.  Immigrants  are 
not  the  only  persons  induced  to  migrate  through 
the  feeling  that  where  one  is  not  will  prove  a 
much  better  place  than  where  one  is.  That  seems 
to  inhere  in  human  nature. 

"Not  only  the  American  money  and  letters,  but  American 
the  Awicr.  ■;  n  ideas  are  at  work  abroad,"  savs  the  ^"'"" 
Rev.  F.  M.  Goodchild,  D.D.,i  in  a  recent  address : 
"The  praises  of  America  are  told  abroad  by 
every  person  who  comes  here  and  gets  along. 
Some  things  to  be  sure,  these  people  miss— the 
blue  skies  of  Italy  and  the  vineyards  on  the  hill- 
side. But  they  have  for  them  the  compensation 
of  such  a  liberty  as  they  never  knew  before.  The 
real  reason  why  all  southern  Europe  is  in  a  tur- 
moil to-day,  is  that  American  ideas  of  liberty  are 

•Published  in  Ba/iitst  Home  Mission  Monthly  for  July.  ioo6. 


34 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Idea 


working  thcv  lik^;  •  ven.  We  get  our  notions 
of  liberty  fr^  i  th"  '  ible  and  from  the  men  who 
forced  the  Magna  Charta  from  King  John  at 
Runnyniede,  but  all  other  peoples  in  the  world 
seem  to  be  getting  their  ideas  of  liberty  from  us. 
That  is  what  is  the  matter  with  the  Old  World 
The  Amsrican  to-day.  The  American  idea  is  working  like  leaven. 
That  is  the  force  at  work  in  France,  where  abso- 
lute divorce  has  just  been  proclaimed  between 
Church  and  State.  That  is  at  the  bottom  of  the 
movements  in  Russia,  where  the  Stundists  have 
just  won  religious  liberty,  and  where,  let  us  hope, 
all  classes  of  people  ere  long  will  have  won  com- 
plete civil  liberty.  These  people  have  felt  the 
uplift  of  our  American  free  institutions  and  they 
want  them  for  themselves.  They  have  heard 
'Yankee  Doodle,'  and  the  'Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner,' and  'My  Country,  'tis  of  Thee,'  and  they 
cannot  get  the  music  of  liberty  out  of  their  ears 
and  their  hearts.  Broughton  Brandenburg  tells 
us  that  he  heard  some  Italians  who  had  been  in 
America  singing  our  classic  song  'Mr.  Dooley' 
in  the  vineyards  near  Naples." 


Personal 
Testimony 


/r^.     What  the  Immigrants  Say 

Let  the  immigrants  themselves  tell  why  the}- 
come.  These  testimonies  are  typical,  condensed 
from  a  most  interestmg  volume  of  immigrant 
autobiography,!  fresh  and  illuminating. 

'Hamilton  Holt,     Undistinguished Americant. 


I  who 

in  at 

world 

m  us. 

Vorld 

aven. 

abso- 

tween 

;3 

)f  the 

^   ^ 

have 

^.    1 

hope, 

z'    1 

com- 
It  the 

I  they 
heard 

-    — 

Ban- 

they 

r  ears 

7-    J, 

f  tells 

-     f 

;en  in 

z-  >: 

oolev' 

'  the}- 
lensed 
igrant 


The  Alien  Advance 


35 


A  German  nurse  girl  says:  "I  heard  about  how  a  German 
easy  it  was  to  make  money  in  America  and 
became  very  anxious  to  go  there.  I  was  restless 
in  my  home ;  mother  seemed  so  stern  and  could 
not  understand  that  I  wanted  amusement.  I 
sailed  from  Ant'  i  rp.  the  fare  costing  $35.  My 
second  eldest  sister  met  me  with  her  husband  at 
Ellis  Island  and  they  were  glad  to  see  me  and  I 
went  to  live  with  them  in  their  flat  in  West 
Thirty-fourth  Street.  A  week  later  I  was  an 
apprentice  in  a  Sixth  Avenue  millinery  store 
earning  four  dollars  a  week.  I  only  paid  three 
for  board,  and  was  soon  earning  extra  money  by 
making  dresses  and  hats  at  home."  Friends  in 
Germany  would  be  sure  to  hear  of  this  new 
condition. 

Why  do  the  Poles  come?  A  Polish  sweatshop  a  Poie 
girl,  telling  her  life  story,  answers.  The  father 
died,  then  troubles  began  in  the  home  in  Poland. 
Little  was  needed  by  the  widow  and  her  child, 
but  even  soup,  black  bread,  and  onions  they  could 
not  always  get.  At  thirteen  the  girl  was  handy  at 
housekeeping,  but  the  rent  fell  behind,  and  the 
mother  decided  to  leave  Poland  for  America, 
where,  "we  heard,  it  was  much  easier  to  make 
monev.  Mother  wrote  to  Aunt  Fannv,  who  lived 
in  Xew  York,  and  told  her  how  hard  it  was  to 
live  in  Poland,  and  Aunt  Fanny  advised  her  to 
come  and  bring  me."  Thousands  could  tell  a 
similar  storv  to  that.     "Easier  to  make  monev" 


36 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Ruastan 


An  Italian 


has  allured  multitudes  to  leave  the  old  home  and 

land. 

A  Lithuanian  (Russian)  tells  how  it  was  the 
traveling  shoemaker  that  made  1"  im  want  to  come 
to   America.     This   shoemaker   learned   all   the 
news,  and  smuggled  new.-'papers  across  the  Gc- 
man  line,  and   he   told  the  boy's  parents  how 
wrong  it  was  to  shut  him  out  of  education  and 
liberty  by  keeping  him  at  home.    "That  boy  must 
go  to  America,"  he  said  one  night.    "My  son  is 
in  the  stockyards  in  Chicago."  These  were  some 
of  his  reasons  for  going:  "You  can  read  free 
papers  and  prayer  books;   you   can  have  free 
meetings,  and  talk  out  what  you  think."     And 
more  precious  far,  you  can  have  "life,  liberty, 
and  the  getting  of  happiness."    When  time  for 
military  service  drew  near,  these  arguments  for 
America  prevailed  and  the  boy  wrs  smuggled 
out  of  his  native  lana.    "It  is  agamst  the  law  to 
sell  tickets  to  America,  but  my  father  saw  the 
secret  agent  in  the  village  and  he  got  a  ticket 
from  Germany  and  found  us  a  guide.     I  had 
bread  and  cheese  and  vodka  (liquor)  and  clothes 
in  my  bag.    My  father  gave  me  $50  besides  my 
ticket."    Bribery  did  the  rest,  and  thus  this  immi- 
grant obtained  his  liberty  and  chance  in  America. 
The  American  idea  is  leavening  Russia  surely 
enough. 

An  Italian  bootblack  who  already  owns  several 
bootblacking  establishments  in  this  country,  was 


The  Alien  Advance 


37 


trained  to  a  beggar's  life  in  Italy,  and  ran  away. 
"Now  and  then  I  had  heard  things  about  America 
— that  it  was  a  far-off  country  where  everybody 
was  rich  and  that  Italians  went  there  and  made 
plenty  of  money,  so  that  they  could  return  to 
Italy  and  live  in  pleasure  ever  after."  He  worked 
his  passage  as  a  coaler,  and  was  passed  at  Ellis 
Island  through  the  perjury  of  one  of  the  bosses 
who  wring  money  out  of  the  immigrants  in  the 
way  of  commissions,  getting  control  of  them  by 
the  criminal  act  at  the  very  entrance  into 
American  life. 

A  Greek  peddler,  a  graduate  of  the  high  a  Greek 
school  at  Sparta — think  of  a  modern  high  school 
in  ancient  Spart:. ! — after  two  years  in  the  army, 
was  ready  for  life.  "All  these  later  years  I  had 
been  hearing  from  America.  An  elder  brother 
was  there  who  had  found  it  a  fine  country  and 
was  urging  me  to  join  him.  Fortunes  could 
easily  be  made,  he  said.  I  got  a  great  desire  to 
see  it,  and  in  one  way  and  another  I  raised  the 
money  for  fare — 250  francs — ($50)  and  set  sail 
from  the  old  port  of  Athens.  I  got  ashore  with- 
out any  trouble  in  New  York,  and  got  work 
immediately  as  a  pushcart  man.  Six  of  us  lived 
together  in  two  rooms  down  on  Washington 
Street.  At  the  end  of  our  day's  work  we  all 
divided  up  our  money  even;  we  were  all  free." 

A   Cvvedish  farmer  says:   "A  man  who  had   a  Swede 
been  living  in  America  once  came  to  visit  the 


i 


38 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


An  Irish 
Woman 


little  village  near  our  cottage.  He  wore  gold 
rings  set  with  jewels  and  had  a  fine  watch.  He 
said  that  food  was  cheap  in  America  and  that  a 
man  could  earn  nearly  ten  times  as  much  there 
as  in  Sweden.  There  seemed  to  be  no  end  to  his 
money."  Sickness  came,  with  only  black  bread 
and  a  sort  of  potato  soup  or  gruel  for  food,  and 
at  last  it  was  decided  that  the  older  brother  was 
to  go  to  America.  The  first  letter  from  him  con- 
tained this :  "I  have  work  v/ith  a  farmer  who  pays 
mt  sixty-four  kroner*  a  month  and  my  board.  I 
send  you  twenty  kroner,  and  will  try  to  send 
that  every  month.  This  is  a  good  country. 
All  about  me  are  Swedes,  who  have  taken 
farms  and  are  getting  rich.  They  eat  white 
bread  and  plenty  of  meat.  One  farmer,  a  Swede, 
made  more  than  25,000  kroner  on  his  crop  last 
year.  The  people  here  do  not  work  such  long 
hours  as  in  Sweden,  but  they  work  much  harder, 
and  they  have  a  great  deal  of  machinery,  so  that 
the  crop  one  farmer  gathers  will  fdl  two  big 
barns." 

An  Irish  cook,  one  of  "sivin  childher,"  had  a 
sister  Tilly,  who  emigrated  to  Philadelphia, 
started  as  a  greenhorn  at  $2  a  week,  learned  to 
cook  and  bake  and  wash,  all  American  fashion, 
and  before  a  year  was  gone  had  money  enough 
laid  up  to  send  for  the  teller  of  the  story.  The 
two  gradually  brought  over  the  whole  family. 

The  Swedish  krone  (kn-ne)  has  a  v.iliie  of  about  27  cents. 


The  Alien  Advance 


39 


and  Joseph  owns  a  big  flour  store  and  Phil  is  a 
broker,  while  his  son  is  in  poHtics  and  the  city 
council,  and  his  daughter  Ann  (she  calls  herself 
Antoinette  now)  is  engaged  to  a  lawyer  in  New 
York.  That  is  America's  attractiveness  and 
opportunity  and  transformation  in  a  nutshell. 

A  Syrian,  born  on  the  Lebanon  range,  went  a  synan 
to  an  American  mission  school  at  fifteen,  learned 
much  that  his  former  teacher  the  friar  had 
warned  him  against,  had  his  horizon  broadened, 
gave  up  his  idea  of  becoming  a  Maronite  monk 
when  he  learned  that  there  v  ere  other  great 
countries  beside  Syria,  and  had  all  his  old  ideas 
overthrown  by  an  encyclopedia  which  said  the 
United  States  was  a  larger  and  richer  country 
than  Syria  or  even  Turkey.  The  friar  was  angry 
and  said  the  book  told  lies,  and  so  did  the  patri- 
arch, who  was  scandalized  to  think  such  a  book 
should  come  to  Mount  Lebanon ;  but  the  Ameri- 
can teacher  said  the  encyclopedia  was  written 
by  men  who  knew,  and  the  Syrian  boy  finally 
decided  to  go  to  the  United  States,  where  "we 
had  heard  that  poor  people  were  not  oppressed." 
His  mother  and  uncle  came,  too,  and  as  the  boy 
was  a  good  penman  he  secured  work  without 
difficulty  in  an  Oriental  goods  store.  As  for  his 
former  religious  teaching  he  says:  "The  Ameri- 
can teacher  never  talked  to  me  about  religion ; 
but  I  can  see  that  those  monks  and  priests  arc 
the  curse  of  our  country,  keeping  the  people  in 


40 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Japanese 


A  Chinese 


ignorance  and  grinding  the  faces  of  the  poor, 
while  pretending  to  be  their  friends."  In  his 
case  it  was  the  foreign  mission  school  that  was 
the  magnet  to  America. 

A  Japanese  says :  "The  desire  to  see  America 
was  burning  in  my  boyish  heart.  The  land  of 
freedom  and  civilization  of  which  I  had  heard 
so  much  from  missionaries  and  the  wonderful 
story  of  America  I  had  heard  from  those  of  my 
race  who  returned  from  there  made  my  longing 
ungovernable."  A  popular  novel  among  Japan- 
ese boys,  "The  Adventurous  Life  of  Tsurukichi 
Tanaka,  Japanese  Robinson  Crusoe,"  made  a 
strong  impression  upon  him,  and  finally  he 
decided  to  come  to  this  country  to  receive  an 
American  education. 

A  representative  Chinese  business  man  of  New 
York  was  taught  in  childhood  that  the  English 
and  Americans  were   foreign  devils,  the  latter 
false,  because  having  made  a  treaty  by  which 
they  could  freely  come  to  China  and  Chinese  as 
freely  go  to  America,  they  had  broken  the  treiJty 
and  shut  the  Chinese  out.     When  he  was  six- 
teen, working  on  a  farm,  a  man  of  his  tribe  came 
back  from  Amcr..;a  "and  took  ground  as  large 
as  four  city  blocks  and  made  a  paradise  of  it." 
He  had  gone  away  a  poor  boy,  now  he  returned 
with  unlimited  wealth,  "which  he  had  obtained 
in  the  country  of  the  American  wizards.    He  had 
become  a  merchant  in  a  city  called  Mott  Street, 


The  Alien  Advance 


41 


Fortune  and 
Freedom 


,1 
-'1 


SO  it  was  said.  The  wealth  of  this  man  filled 
my  mind  with  the  idea  that  I,  too,  would  go 
to  the  country  of  the  wizards  and  g^ain  some 
of  their  wealth."  Land  ij^  in  San  Francisco, 
before  the  exclusion  act,  he  started  in  American 
life  as  a  house  servant,  but  finally  became  a 
Mott  Street  merchant,  as  he  had  intended  from 
the  first. 

Thus  we  have  j^onc  the  rounds  of  immi- 
grants of  various  races.  The  two  ideas — 
fortune  and  freedom — lie  at  the  basis  of  immi- 
gration, although  the  money  comes  first  in 
nearly  all  cases.  These  testimonies  could  be 
multiplied  indefinitely.  Ask  the  first  immi- 
grant you  can  talk  with  what  brought  him, 
and  find  out  for  yourself.  Mr.  Brandenlnirg  says 
a  Greek  who  was  being  deported  told  him  that  all 
Greece  was  stirred  up  over  the  matter  of  emigra- 
tion, and  that  in  five  years  the  number  of  Greeks 
coming  to  the  United  States  would  have  increased 
a  thousand  per  cent.^  The  reasons  are  the  too 
onerous  military  duties  in  Greece  and  prosperity 
of  Greeks  in  America.  The  remittances  fired 
the  zeal  of  the  home  people  to  follow,  and  the 
candymakers'  shops  were  full  of  apprentices, 
because  the  idea  had  gone  abroad  that  candy- 
makers  could  easily  gain  a  fortune  in  America. 

From  these  illustrations,  it  can  readily  be  seen   showing  only 
how  widespread  is  the  knowledge  of  America  as   the  Bright  side 

Broughton  Bri«ndenburg,  Imported  Americans,  37. 


.1 


42 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


EvUs  of 
Soiiciution 


a  desirable  place.  The  other  side  is  rarely  told 
and  that  is  the  pitiful  side  of  it.  The  stories  that 
go  back  are  always  of  the  fortunes,  not  of  the 
misfortunes,  of  the  money  and  net  of  the  misery. 

r.     Solicitation  an  Evil 
If  immijrration  were  left  to  the  natural  causes, 
tliere  would  be  little  reason  for  apprehension.    It 
is  in  the  solicited  and  assisted  immigration  that  the 
worst  ele.nent  is  found.     Commercial  greed  lies 
at  the  root  of  this,  as  of  most  of  the  evils  which 
afflict  us  as  a  nation.    The  great  steamship  lines 
have  made  it  ch'  -^er  to  emigrate  than  to  stay  at 
home,  in  many  cases ;  and  every  kind  of  illegal 
inducement  and  deceit  and  allurement  has  been 
employed  to  secure  a  full  steerage.    The  ramifi- 
cations of  this  transportation  system  .i..  wonder- 
ful.     It   has   a    direct   bearing,    too,    upon   the 
character  of  the  immigrants.     Easy  and  cheap 
transportation  involves  deterioration  in  quality. 
In  the  days  when  a  journey  across  the  Atlantic 
was  a  matter  of  weeks  or  months  and  of  consid- 
erable outlay,  only  the  most  enterprising,  thrifty 
and  venturesome  were  ready  to  try  an  uncertain 
future  m  an  unknown  land.    The  immigrant  of 
tliose  days   was   likely,   therefore,  to  be"  of  tlie 
sturdiest  and  best  type,  and  his  coming  increased 
the  general  prosperity  without  lowering  the  moral 
tone.    Xow  that  the  ocean  has  become^ittle  more 
than  a  ferry,  and  the  rates  of  railway  and  steam- 


The  Alien  A«lvance 


43 


AiBiited 

Imtnigration 


Governmental 
Abuses 


sliip  have  heen  so  reduced,  it  is  the  least  tliriftv 
and  prosperous   members  of  their  communitieV 
that  fall  readiest  prey  to  the  emigration  agent. 
Assisted  immigration  is  the  term  used  to  cover 
cases    where   a    foreign    government   has   eased 
itself  of  part  of  the  burden  of  its  paupers,  insane, 
dependents,  and  delinquents  by  shipping  them  to 
the  United  States.     This  was  not  uncommon  in 
the  nineteenth  century,  especially  in  the  case  of 
local  and  municipal  governments.    Our  laws  were 
lax,    and    for    a    time    nearly    everybody,    sane 
or  in.sane,  sound  or  diseased,  was  passed.     The 
financial  gain  to  the  exporting  government  can 
be  seen  in  the  fact  that  it  costs  about  $150  per 
head  a  year  to  support  dependents  and  delinquents 
in  this  country,  while  it  would  not  cost  the  foreign 
authorities   more    than   $50   to   transport    them 
hither.    This  policy  seems  scarcely  credible,  but 
.Switzerland,  Great  Britain,  and  Ireland  followed 
it  thriftily  until  our  laws  put  a  stop  to  it,  in  large 
part,    by    returning    these    unde«!irable    persons 
whence  they  came,  at  the  expens.     .  the  steam- 
ship companies  bringing  them.     It  was  not  until 
1882,  however,  that  our  government  passed  laws 
for  self-protection,  and  in  1891  another  law  made 
"assisted"  immigrants  a  special  class  not  to  be 
admitted. 

Other  and  incidental  causes  there  are, 'such  as   other  c.u.e. 
the   influence   of   new   machinery,   opening   the 
way  for  more  unskilled  labor,  such  as  the  ordi- 


44 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  ChrtitUn 
Attitude 


nary  immigrant  has  to  sell ;  the  protective  tariff, 
which  shuts  out  foreign  goods  and  brings  in  the 
foreign  producers  of  the  excluded  goods;  the 
thorough  advertising  abroad  of  American  advan- 
tages by  boards  of  agriculture  and  railway  com- 
panies interested  in  building  up  communitie^ 
and  a  fear  of  restrictive  legislation.  But  undoubt- 
edly, ever  back  of  all  other  reasons  is  the  convic- 
tion that  America  is  the  land  of  plenty  and  of 
liberty — a  word  which  each  interprets  according 
to  his  light  or  his  liking. 

Having  thus  considered  the  remarkable  propor- 
tions of  immigration,  and  the  causes  of  it,  it  will 
be  well  at  this  point  to  say  a  cautionary  word  as 
to  the  attitude  of  mind  and  heart  in  which  this 
subject  should  be  approached.  Impartiality  is 
necessary  but  difficult.  There  is  a  natural  preju- 
dice against  the  immigrant.  A  Christian  woman, 
of  ordinarily  gentle  and  sweet  temper,  was  heard 
to  say  recently,  while  this  very  subject  of  Chris- 
tian duty  to  the  immigrant  was  under  discussion 
at  a  missionary  conference:  "I  hate  these  dis- 
gusting foreigners;  they  are  spoiling  our 
country."  Doubtless  many  would  sympathize 
with  her.  This  is  not  uncommon  prejudice  or 
feeling,  and  argument  against  it  is  of  little  avail. 
Nevertheless,  as  Christians  we  must  endeavor  to 
divest  ourselves  of  it.  We  must  recognize  the 
brotherhood  of  man  and  the  value  of  the  individ- 
ual soul  as  taught  by  Jesus.    It  may  aid  us,  per- 


The  Alien  Advance 


45 


per- 


haps, if  we  remember  that  we  are  all — with  the 
exception  of  the  Indians,  who  may  lay  claim  to 
aboriginal  heritage — in  a  sense  descendants  of 
immigrants.  At  the  same  time,  it  is  essential  to 
draw  a  clear  distinction  between  colonists  and 
immigrants.  Colonization,  with  its  attendant  coiomit.  and 
hardships  and  heroisms,  steadily  advanced  from  immiBranti 
its  beginnings  in  Xew  England,  Xcw  Amsterdam,  '**  °'""*'**' 
and  Virginia,  until  there  resulted  the  founding 
of  a  free  and  independent  nation,  with  popular 
government  and  fixed  religious  principles,  includ- 
ing the  vital  ones  of  religious  liberty  and  the  right 
of  the  individual  conscience.  In  other  words, 
colonization  created  a  nation;  and  there  had  to 
be  a  nation  before  there  could  be  immigration  to 
it.  "In  discussing  the  immigration  question," 
says  Mr.  Hall,  "this  distinction  is  important," 
for  it  docs  not  follow  that,  because,  as  against 
the  native  Indians,  all  comers  might  be  con- 
sidered as  intruders  and  equally  without  claim 
of  rigiit  those  who  have  built  up  a  complicated 
framework  of  nationality  have  no  rights  as 
against  others  who  seek  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of 
national  life  without  having  contributed  to  its 
creation."* 

It   ought   clearly   to   ue   recognized   that   the   coionittand 
colonists    and    their    descendants    have    sacred    ^"i""'* 
rights,    civil    and    religious,    with    which    aliens 
should  not  be  permitted  to  interfere;  and  that 

'  Pretcott  F.  Hall,  Immigration,  3,  4. 


46 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Sympathetic 
and  Opea 
Miad 


The  Hersonal 
Responsibility 


these  rights  include  all  proper  and  necessary  leg- 
islation for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties,  laws, 
institutions,   and    principles   established   by   the 
founders  of  the  Republic  and  those  rights  of 
citizenship    guaranteed    under    the    constitution 
If  restriction  of  immigration  becomes  necessary 
in  order   ^o  safeguard  America,  the  American 
people  ha\e  a  clear  right  to  pass  restrictive  or 
even  prohibitory  laws.    In  other  words,  America 
does    not    belong    equally    to    everybody.    The 
American  has  rights  which  the  alien  must  become 
American  to  acquire. 

At  the  same  time,  our  attitude  toward  the 
alien    should   be   sympathetic,   and   our   minds 
should  be  open  and  inquiring  as  we  study  the 
incoming  multitudes.    We  do  not  wish  to  raise 
the  Russian  cry,  "Russia  for  the  Russians,"  or 
the  Chmese  shibboleth,  "China  for  the  Chinese." 
The  Christian  spirit  has  been  compressed  into  the 
epigram,    "Not    America    for    Americans,    but 
Americans  for  America."     We  must  see  to  it 
that  the  immigrants  do  not  remain  aliens,  but 
are  transformed  into  Christian  Americans.    That 
is  the  true  missionary  end  for  which  we  are  to 
work;  and   it   is   in   order  that   we  mav   work 
intelligently  and  efifectively  that  we  seek  to  famil- 
iarize ourselves  with  the  facts. 

The  facts  already  brought  out  are  surely  suf- 
ficient to  arrest  attention.  Suppose  this  million- 
a-year  rate  should  continue  for  a  decade— and 


The  Alien  Advance 


47 


or 


there  is  every  reason  to  believe  it  will,  unless 
unusual  and  unlikely  restrictive  measures  are 
taken  by  our  government.  That  would  mean  ten 
millions  more  added,  and  probably  seventy  per 
cent,  of  them  from  southeastern  Europe.  Add 
the  natural  increase,  and  estimate  what  the 
result  of  these  millions  would  be  upon  the 
national  digestion.  Politically,  the  foreign  ele- 
ment would  naturally  and  inevitably  assume  the 
place  which  a  majority  can  claim  in  a  democracy, 
and  not  only  claim  but  maintain,  by  the  use  of 
votes — a  use  which  the  immigrant  learns  full 
soon  from  the  manipulators  of  parties.  Reli- 
giously, unless  a  great  change  should  come  over 
the  spirit  of  American  Protestantism,  and  the 
work  of  evangelization  among  foreigners  be  con- 
ducted along  quite  different  lines  from  the  pres- 
ent, is  it  not  plain  that  our  country  would  cease 
to  be  Christian  America,  as  we  understand  the 
term  ?  There  is  enough  in  these  questions  to  set 
and  keep  the  patriotic  American  thinking. 

The  personal  inquiry  for  each  one  to  make  is, 
"As  an  American  and  a  Christian,  have  these 
facts  and  queries  any  special  message  for  me, 
and  have  I  any  direct  responsibility  in  relation 
to  them  ?" 


48 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


SUGGESTIONS  FOR  USING  THE  QUESTIONS 

These  questions  have  been  prepared  to  suggest  to  the 
leader  and  student  the  most  important  points  in  the 
chapter,  and  to  stimulate  further  meditation  and 
thought.  Those  marked  *  should  encourage  discussion. 
The  leader  is  not  expected  to  use  all  of  these  questions, 
and  should  use  his  judgment  in  eliminating  or  adding 
others  that  are  in  harmony  with  the  aim  of  the  lesson. 
For  helps  for  conducting  each  class  session,  the  leader 
should  not  fail  to  write  to  the  Secretary  of  his  Home 
Missionary    Board. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  CHAPTER  I 

Aim  :     To  Realize  Our  REspo.v.siniLiTv  in  Receiving 
One  Million  .Aliens  a  Year 

I.     To  Learn  by  Comparison  the  Magnitude  of  a  Million 
Aliens. 

At  what  rate  per  annum  is  our  population  now 
being  increased  by  immigration? 
What  are  the   sources  of  this   invasion?     Its 
principal  gateway? 

3.  What  comparison  helps  you  most  to  realize  the 
number  of   immigrants  ? 

4.  What  are  some  of  the  largest  groups  in  the 
mass,  as  classified  by  nationality?  By  race? 
By  knowledge  or  ignorance?  By  fitness  for 
labor? 

5.  What  states  may  be  compared  with  last  year's 
arrivals? 

To  Rcalicc  the  Proportion  of  Our  Population  that 
has  Immigrated  since  18 jo. 

6.  How  does  the  total  number  of  our  immigrants 
compare  with  the  population  of  Germany? 
England?  Canada? 


II. 


I. 


2. 


The  Alien  Advance 


49 


7-  Has  the  number  of  immigrants  been  increasing 
steadily?     Will  it  tend  to  increase? 

8.  Has  the  present  rate  been  long  continued? 
What  proportion  of  the  population  of  the 
United  States  is  derived  from  immigration 
subsequent  to  the  American  Revolution? 

9*  Do  you  think  there  is  any  serious  menace 
in  such  large  numbers  of  immigrants? 


ni.     IVhy  do  Aliens  Come? 


10. 


ri. 


12. 


13- 


Name    the    principal    causes    of    immigration. 
The  principal  classes. 

What  American  ideals  have  the  greatest  attrac- 
tive power?  What  opportunities? 
Give  some  typical  instances  of  immigrants' 
stories.  *  Would  you  have  wished  to  come 
under  the  same  circumstances? 
What  other  forces  stimulate  immigration  to 
the   United   States?     What   agencies? 


IV.     What  Should  be  our  Attitude  toward  Aliens,  and 
What  is  our  Individual  Responsibility  for  Them? 

I4.''  What  is  the  Christian  attitude  toward  these 
newcomers?     How  can  we  remove  prejudice? 

IS.*  What  is  our  personal  responsibility  as  Chris- 
tians in  improving  the  condition  of  aliens? 

Referenxes  for  Adv.\nced  Study.— Chapter  I 

I.     Compare  modern  immigration  with  the  migration 
of  peoples   in   earlier  times;    for  example,   those 
of  the  Hebrews,  Aryans,  Goths,  Huns,  Saracens, 
and  other  races. 
Any  good  Encyclopedia  or  General  History. 


50 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


II.  What  resemblances  and  what  differences  between 
the  Colonial  settlement  of  America,  and  the  later 
immigration,  say,  during  the  Isineteenth  Century? 

III.  The  Causes  of  Immigration, 
Hall:  Immigration,  II. 

Lord,  et  al:  The  Italian  in  America,  III,  VIII. 
Warne:  The  Slav  Invasion,  III,  IV;  78,  83. 
Holt:  Undistinguished  Americans,  35,  244-250. 

IV.  What  agencies  can  you  name  and  describe  that 
are  trying  to  receive  the  immigrants  in  a  humane 
and  Christian  spirit?  For  example,  the  United 
States  Government,  American  Tract  Society,  New 
York  Bible  Society,  Society  for  Italian  Immi- 
grants, and  other  organizations  and  agencies. 
Study  especially  any  that  work  in  your  own 
neighborhood. 


ween 

later 

tury? 


[II. 

sso. 

that 
mane 
nited 

New 
mmi- 
ncies. 

own 


As  for  immigrants,  we  cannot  have 
too  many  of  the  right  kind,  and  we 
should  have  none  of  the  wrong  kind. 
I  will  go  as  far  as  any  In  regard  to 
restricting  undesirable  immigration.  I 
do  not  think  that  any  immigrant  who  will 
lower  the  standard  of  life  among  our 
people  should  be  ac/wiV/t'd.— President 
Roosevelt. 


II 
ALIEN  ADMISSION  AND  RESTRICTION 


51 


Unrestricted  immigration  is  doing  much  to  cause 
deterioration  in  the  quality  of  American  citizenship. 
Let  us  resolve  that  America  shall  be  neither  a  hermit 
nation  nor  a  Botany  Bay.  Let  us  make  our  land  a  home 
for  the  oppressed  of  all  nations,  but  not  a  dumping- 
ground  for  the  criminals,  the  pa  ipers,  the  cripples,  and 
the  illiterate  of  the  world.  Let  our  Republic,  in  its 
crowded  and  hazardous  future,  adopt  these  watch- 
words, to  be  made  good  all  along  our  oceanic  and  con- 
tinental borders:  "Welcome  for  the  worthy,  protection 
to  the  patriotic,  but  no  shelter  in  America  for  those 
who  ^  ould  destroy  the  American  shelter  itseli."— Joseph 
Cook. 

It  is  not  the  migration  of  a  few  thousand  or  even 
million  human  beings  frc~»  one  part  of  the  world  to 
another  nor  their  good  or  bad  fortune  that  is  of  interest 
to  us.  We  are  concerned  with  the  effect  of  such  a 
movement  on  the  community  at  large  and  its  growth  in 
civilization.  Immigration,  for  instance,  means  the  con- 
stant infusion  of  new  blood  into  the  American  common- 
wealth, and  the  question  is :  What  effect  will  this  new 
blood  have  upon  the  character  of  the  community? — 
Professor   Mayo-Smith. 

It  is  advisable  to  study  the  influence  of  the  new- 
comers on  the  ethical  consciousness  of  the  community — 
whether  there  is  a  gain  or  a  loss  to  us.  In  short,  we 
must  set  up  our  standard  of  what  we  desire  this  nation 
to  be,  and  then  consider  whether  the  policy  we  have 
hitherto  pursued  in  regard  to  immigration  is  calculated 
to  maintain  that  standard  or  to  endanger  it. — Idem. 


62 


II 

ALIEN  ADMISSION  AND  RESTRICTION 

/.     Method  of  Admission 

JJ  OW  do  immigrants  obtain  entrance  into  the  Chief  Ports 

United  States?  New  York  is  the  chief  "'^"^^^ 
port  of  entry,  and  if  we  learn  the  conditions 
and  methods  there  we  shall  know  them  in  gen- 
eral. The  great  proportion  coming  through 
New  York  is  seen  by  comparison  of  the  total 
admissions  for  1904  and  1905  at  the  larger  ports: 

Port  1904  1905 

New  York  606,019  788,219 

Boston  60,278  65,107 

Baltimore    55.940  62,314 

Philadelphia    19,467  23,824 

Honolulu    9,054  1 1,997 

San   Francisco    9,036  6,377 

Other   Ports    23,702  24,447 

Through  Canada  30,374  44,214 

The  proportion  for  New  York  is  not  far  from   The  Floating 
eight  tenths  of  the  whole.    Hence  it  is  true,  that   o«eway 
while  the  "dirty  little  ferryboat  John  G.  Carlisle  is 
not  an  imposing  object  to  the  material  eye,  to  the 
eye  of  the  imagination  she  is  a  spectacle  to  inspire 
awe.    for   she    is   the   floating   gateway   of   the 

B3 


54 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Human 
Storage 
Reiervoira 


Republic.  Over  her  clingy  decks  march  in  end- 
less succession  the  eager  battalions  of  Europe's 
peaceful  invaders  of  the  West.  That  single 
craft,  in  her  hourly  trips  from  Ellis  Island  to  the 
Battery,*  carries  more  immigrants  in  a  year  than 
came  over  in  all  the  fleets  of  the  nations  in  the 
two  centuries  after  John  Smith  landed  at  James- 
town. "2 

Reading  about  the  arrivals  at  Ellis  Island,  no 
matter  how  realistic  the  descriptioi  ,  will  not  give 
a  vivid  idea  of  what  immigration  means  nor  of 
what  sort  the  immigrants  are.  For  that,  you 
must  obtain  a  permit  from  the  authorities  and 
actually  see  for  yourself  the  human  stream  that 
pours  from  the  steerage  of  the  mighty  steamships 
into  the  huge  human  storage  reservoirs  of  Ellis 
Island,^  We  know  that  however  perfect  the 
system,  human  nature  has  to  be  taken  into 
account,  both  in  officials  and  immigrants, 
and  human  nature  is  imperfect;  much  of  it  at 

•The  park  and  piers  at  the  southern  end  of  New  York  City, 
forr.ieriy  known  as  Castle  Garden. 

'Samuel  E.  Moffett,  Review  of  Reviews,  July,  1003. 

*It  is  good  to  know  that  the  reception  conditions,  so  far  as  the 
Government  is  concerned,  have  been  made  as  favorable  as  present 
accommodations  will  allow,  and  enlargement  is  alreadv  projected. 
Since  the  Federal  Government  finally  took  charge  of  immigration 
in  1882,  great  improvement  has  been  made  in  method  and  adminis- 
tration. The  inspection  is  humane,  prompt,  and  on  the  whole 
kindly,  although  entrance  examinations  are  as  much  dreaded  by 
the  average  immigrant  as  by  the  average  student.  Commissioner 
Watchorn,  an  admirable  man  for  his  place,  insists  uppn  kindness,  and 
want  of  it  in  an  employee  is  cause  for  dismissal.  Ellis  Island  aflFords 
an  excellent  example  of  carefully  adjusted  details  and  thorough 
system,  %vhereby  with  least  possible  friction  thousands  of  aliens 
are  examined  in  a  day,  and  pronounced  fit  or  unfit  to  enter  the 
country.  The  process  is  too  rapid,  however,  to  give  each  case  the 
attention  which  the  best  interests  of  the  country  demand. 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


50 


Ellis  Island  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  deal 
patiently  with.  Hence,  from  the  very  nature  of 
things  and  men,  the  situation  is  one  to  develop 
pathos,  humor,  comedy,  and  tragedy,  as  the 
great  "human  sifting  machine"  works  away  at 
separating  the  wheat  from  the  chaff.  The 
tragedy  comes  in  the  case  of  the  excluded,  since 
the  blow  falls  sometimes  between  parents  and 
children,  hu-sband  and  wife,  lover  and  sweetheart, 
and  the  decree  of  exclusion  is  as  bitter  as  death. 

To  make  the  manner  and  method  of  getting  M.ke  Your.cif 
into  America  by  the  steerage  process  as  real  as   •"  imaginary 
possible,  try  t-  put  yourself  in  an  alien's  place.    ^""""^'"* 
and  see  what  you  would  have  to  go  through. 
Do  not  take  immigration  at  its  worst,  but  rather 
at  its  best,  or  at  least  above  the  average  condi- 
tions.   Assume  that  you  belong  to  the  more  intel- 
ligent and  desirable  class,  finding  a  legitimate 
reason  for  leaving  your  home  in  Europe,  because 
of  hard  conditions  and  poor  outlook  there  and 
bright  visions  of  fortune  in  the  land  of  liberty, 
whither    relatives    have    preceded    you.      Your 
steamship  ticket  is  bought  in  your  native  town, 
and  you  have  no  care  concerning  fare  or  bag- 
gage.    A  number  of  people  of  your  race  and 
neighborhood  are  on  the  way,  so  that  you  are 
not  alone. 

Before  embarking  you  are  made  to  answer  a   The  ship-. 
long  list  of  questions,   filling  out  your   "mani-   '«'"'*^*" 
fest,"  or  official  record  which  the  law  requires 


56 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Numbered  and 
Lettered 


the  vessel-masters  to  obtain,  attest,  and  deliver 
to  the  government  officers  at  the  entrance  port.* 
Your  answers  proving  satisfactory  to  the  trans- 
portation agents,  a  card  is  furnished  you,  con- 
taining your  name,  the  letter  of  the  group  of 
thirty  to  which  you  are  assigned,  and  your  group 
number.  Thus  you  become,  for  the  time  being. 
No.  2^  of  group  E.  You  are  cautioned  to  keep 
this  card  in  sight,  as  a  ready  means  of  identi- 
fication. 
The  Voyage  Partings  over,  you  enter  upon  the  strange  and 
unforgetable  experiences  of  ten  days  or  more 
in  the  necessarily  cramped  quarters  of  the  steer- 
age— experiences  of  a  kind  that  do  not  invite 
repetition.  Homesickness  and  seasickness  form 
a  tr>'ing  combination,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
discomforts  of  a  mixed  company  and  enforced 
companionship. 

Your   first  American   experience   befalls   vou 
when  the  steamship  anchors  at  quarantine  inside 

'  Under  the  Act  of  1Q03 ,  this  manifest  has  to  state :  The  full  name 
age  and  sex;  whether  married  or  sinwle;  the  callinR  or  occupation' 
whether  able  to  read  or  write;  the  nationality;  the  race;  the  last 
residence;  the  seaport  landing  in  the  United  States;  the  final  destina- 
tion, if  any,  beyond  the  port  of  landing;  whether  having  a  ;ickct 
through  to  :uch  final  destination;  whether  the  alien  has  paid  his  own 
passage  or  whether  it  has  been  paid  by  any  other  person  or  by  any 
corporation,  society,  municipality,  or  government,  and  if  so,  by 
whom;  whether  in  possession  of  thirty  dollars,  and  if  less,  how  much- 
whether  going  to  join  a  relative  or  friend  and  if  so,  what  relative  or 
;"e"a,  and  his  name  and  complete  address;  whether  ever  before 
in  the  United  States,  and  if  so,  when  and  where;  whether  ever  in 
prison  or  almshouse  or  an  institution  or  hospital  for  the  c-re  and 
treatment  of  the  insane  or  supported  by  charity;  whether  a  polyga- 
mist;  whether  an  anarchist;  whether  coming  by  reason  of  any  offer 
solicitation,  promise,  or  agreement,  expressed  c  implied,  to  perform 
labor  in  the  United  States,  and  what  is  the  alier  ondition  of  health 
mental  and  physical,  and  whether  deformed  o.  ^rippled,  and  if  so, 
for  how  long  and  from  what  cause. 


First  Exper- 
iences  in  the 
New  World 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


57 


Sandy  Hook,  and  the  United  States  inspec- 
tion officers  come  on  board  to  hunt  for  infectious 
or  contagious  diseases — cholera,  smallpox,  typhus 
fever,  yellow  fever,  or  plague.  No  outbreak  of 
any  of  these  has  marked  the  voyage,  fortunately 
for  you,  and  there  is  no  long  delay.  Slowly  the 
great  vessel  pushes  its  way  up  the  harbor  and  the 
North  River,  passing  the  statue  of  Liberty 
Enlightening  ihe  World,  that  beacon  which  all 
incomers  are  enjoined  to  see  as  the  symbol  of  the 
new  liberty  they  hope  to  enjoy. 

At  last  the  voyage  is  done,  your  steamship  lies  ship  Landins 
at  her  pier,  and  you  are  thrust  into  the  midst 
of  distractions.  Families  are  trying  to  keep 
together;  the  din  is  indescribable;  crying  babies 
add  to  the  general  confusion  of  tongues ;  all  sorts 
of  people  with  all  sorts  of  baggage  are  making 
ready  for  the  landing,  which  seems  a  long  time 
oflF  as  you  wait  for  the  customs  officers  to  get 
through  with  the  first-class  passengers.  At  last 
word  is  given  to  go  ashore,  and  the  procession  or 
pushing  movf  ;nt  rather  begins.  You  are  hur- 
ried along,  ;  a  companionway,  lugging  your 
hand  baggage ;  then  down  the  long  gangway  on 
to  the  pier  and  the  soil  of  America. 

It  is  net  a  pleasant  landing  in  the  land  of  light  unnecessary 
and  liberty.    You  have  been  sworn  at,  pushed,  ^™*'*y 
punched   with   a    stick    for   not   moving   faster 
when    you    could    not,    and    have    seen    others 
treated  much  more  roughly.    Just  in  front  of  you 


58 


Aliens  or  Americans; 


Unpleasant 
B«ilnnidc* 


a  poor  woman  is  trying  to  fret  up  tli,-  'Ompanion- 
way  with  a  child  in  one  arm,  a  dec.  cl  air  on  the 
other,  and  a  large  bundle  besides.  Slic  bocks  the 
passage  for  an  instant.  A  great  bu. '  steward 
reaches  up,  drags  her  down,  t^ar  tho  ^  lair  off 
her  arm,  splitting  her  sleeve  i»  ,<'  rr.-p  ng  the 
skin  off  her  wrist  as  he  does  so,  nn  i  ihc  «  in  his 
rage  breaks  the  chair  to  pieces,  wi  le  '!i  voman 
passes  on  sobbing,  not  daring  t<>  i  li  r:  ;trate.* 
This  is  not  the  first  treatment  of  t  s  >,or* 
have  seen,  and  you  feel  powerless  '.  'mc^  ,,  ^h 
your  blood  boils  at  the  outrage. 

As  you  pass  down  the  gangway  your  ai;iui  ir 
is  taken  by  an  officer  with  a  mechanical  checker, 
and  then  you  become  part  of  the  curious  crowd 
gathered  in  the  great  somber  building,  filled  with 
freight,  much  of  it  human.  Here  there  is  con- 
fusion worse  confounded,  as  separated  groups 
try  to  get  together  and  dock  watchmen  try  to 
keep  them  in  place.  Many  believe  their  baggage 
has  been  stolen,  and  mothers  are  sure  their  chil- 
dren have  been  kidnaped  or  lost.  The  dockmen 
are  violent,  not  hesitating  to  use  their  sticks,  and 
you  find  yourself  more  than  once  in  danger, 
although  you  strive  to  obey  orders  you  do  not 
understand  very  well,  since  they  are  shouted  out 
in  savage  manner.  The  inspector  reaches  you 
finally,  and  you  are  hustled  along  in  a  throng  to 
the  barge  that  is  waiting.     You  are  tired  and 

'Broughton  Brandenburg.  Imported  Americans,  jo8. 


HkCKIVINC     liOOM    AT    Kl.MS    Isl.AM) 

(A)    Kiitniiicp  st.'iir-;   (Hi   i:\;iiiiiii:itii)n  dl    hfiilth   tickri;   (O   SuritP.iir- . 

aininalion;    ( I))   Scc.itKl   -uruciin'.-  e\;iniiiiai  imi    i  Ij   <;r.iu|)  CDiiiiiar  i  • 

iiienls;    ( I- )    Waiiim;  f(ir   iti-poci  imi:   I'li    I'a-      -<>  to  the  >t  airway 

ill)   Dctciitiiiii    iiiuim:     ili    rill-  l!i>|icci((r  -k>;    (Ki   <  tiii- 

wanl    |ia>-a(fi>  tu  liartje.  ferry,  nr   det         m    roum. 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


59 


hungry,  having  had  no  food  since  early  break- 
fast. Your  dreams  of  America  seem  far  from 
reality  just  now.  You  are  almost  too  weary  to 
care  what  next. 

The  next  is  Ellis  Island,  whose  great  building  America* 
looks  inviting.  Out  of  the  barge  you  are  swept  '*"^ 
with  the  crowd,  baggage  in  hand  or  on  head  or 
shoulder,  and  on  to  the 'grand  entrance.  As  you 
ascend  the  broad  stairs,  an  officer  familiar  with 
many  languages  is  shouting  out,  first  in  one 
tongue  and  then  another,  "Get  your  health  tickets 
ready."  You  notice  that  the  only  available  place 
many  have  in  which  to  carry  these  tickets  is  in 
their  mouths,  since  their  hands  are  full  of  chil- 
dren or  baggage. 

At  the  head  of  the  long  pair  of  stairs  you  Medic«i 
meet  a  uniformed  officer  (a  doctor  in  the  Marine  ^"•p««=*'«» 
Hospital  Service),  who  takes  your  ticket,  glances 
at  it,  and  stamps  it  with  the  Ellis  Island  stamp. 
Counting  the  quarantine  officer  as  number  one, 
you  have  now  passed  officer  number  two.  At  the 
head  of  the  stairs  you  find  yourself  in  a  great 
hall,  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  each  part  filled 
with  curious  railed-oflf  compartments.  Directed 
by  an  officer,  you  are  turned  into  a  narrow  alley- 
way, and  here  you  meet  officer  number  three,  in 
uniform  like  the  second.  The  keen  eyes  of  this 
doctor  sweep  you  at  a  glance,  from  feet  to  head. 
You  do  not  know  it,  but  this  is  the  first  medical 
inspection  by  a  surgeon  of  the  Marine  Hospital 


I 


6o 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Examination 
of  Eyes 


Service,  and  it  causes  a  halt,  although  only  for  a 
moment.  When  the  person  immediately  in  front 
of  you  reaches  this  doctor,  you  see  that  he  pushes 
back  the  shawl  worn  over  her  head,  gives  a  nod, 
and  puts  a  chalk  mark  upon  her.  He  is  on  the 
keen  lookout  for  favus  (contagious  skin  disease), 
and  for  signs  of  disease  or  deformity.  The  old 
man  who  limps  along  a  little  way  behind  you  has 
a  chalk  mark  put  on  his  coat  lapel,  and  you  won- 
der why  they  do  not  chalk  you. 

You  are  now  about  ten  or  fifteen  feet  behind 
your  front  neighbor,  and  as  you  are  motioned 
to  follow,  about  thirty  feet  further  on  you  con- 
front another  uniformed  surgeon  (officer  number 
four),  who  has  a  towel  hanging  beside  him,  a 
small  instrument  in  his  hand,  and  a  basin  of  dis- 
infectants behind  him.    You  have  little  time  for 
wonder  or  dread.    With  a  deft  motion  ne  applies 
the  instrument  to  your  eye  and  turns  up  the  lid, 
quickly  shutting  it  down  again,  then  repeats  the 
operation  upon  the  other  eye.    He  is  looking  for 
the  dreaded  contagious  trachoma  or  for  purulent 
ophthalmia ;  also  for  disease  of  any  kind,  or  any 
defect  that  would  make  it  lawful  and  wise  to  send 
you  back  whence  you  came.     You  have  now 
been  twice  examined,  and  passed  as  to  soundness 
of  body,  freedom  from  lameness  or  defect,  gen- 
eral health  fulness,  and  absence  of  eye  disease  or 
pulmonary  weakness. 
As  you  move  along  to  the  inclosed  space  of 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


6i 


I 


your  group  E.  you  note  that  the  lame  man  and  Detention 
the  woman  who  were  chalk-marked  are  sent  into  **'^'° 
another  railed-off  space,  known  as  the  "detention 
pen."  where  they  must  await  a  more  rigid  med- 
ical examination.    One  other  inspector  you  have  The  wicket 
faced — a  woman,  whose  sharp  eyes  seem  to  read  o**" 
the  characters  of  the  women  as  they  come  up  to 
her  "wicket  gate ;"  for  it  is  her  duty  to  stop  the 
suspicious  and  immoral  characters  and  send  them 
to  the  detention  rooms  or  special  inquiry  boards. 
Thus  you  have  passed  five  government  officers 
since  landing  on  the  Island.     They  have  been 
courteous  and  kindly^  but  impress  you  as  know- 
ing their  business  so  well  that  they  can  readily 
see  through  fraud  and  deception. 

The  entrance  ordeal  is  not  quite  over,  but  for  Entrance 
a  little  while  you  rest  on  the  wooden  bench  in  Examination 
your  E  compartment,  waiting  until  the  group  is 
assembled,  all  save  those  sent  away  for  deten- 
tion. Suddenly  you  are  told  to  come  on,  and  in 
single  file  E  group  marches  along  the  narrow 
railed  alley  that  leads  to  officer  number  six,  or 
the  inspector  who  holds  E  sheet  in  his  hand. 
When  it  comes  your  turn,  your  manifest  is  pro- 
duced and  you  are  asked  a  lot  of  questions.  A 
combined  interpreter  and  registry  clerk  is  at  hand 
to  assist.  The  interpreter  pleases  you  greatly  by 
speaking  in  your  own  language,  which  he  rightly 
guesses,  and  notes  whether  your  answers  agree 
with  those  on  the  manifest. 


62 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Ticket 
System 


The  Three 
SUira  of 
Separation 


As  you  have  the  good  fortune  to  be  honest, 
and  have  sufficient  money  to  escape  being  halted 
as  likely  to  become  a  public  charge,  you  are 
ticketed  "O.  K."  with  an  "R"  which  means  that 
you  are  bound  for  a  railroad  station.  You  see 
a  ticket  "S.  I."  on  the  lame  man,  which  means 
that  he  is  to  go  to  a  Board  of  Special  Inquiry, 
with  the  chances  of  being  debarred,  or  sent  back 
home.  On  another,  as  you  pass,  you  notice  a 
ticket  "L.  P.  C,"  which  signifies  the  dreaded 
decision,  "liable  to  become  public  charge"— a 
decision  that  means  deportation. 

All  this  time  you  have  been  guided.    Now  you 
are  directed  to  a  desk  where  your  railroad  ticket- 
order  is  stamped ;  next  to  a  banker's  desk,  where 
your  money  is  exchanged  for  American  money ; 
and  finally  you  are  motioned  to  the  right  stairway 
of  three,  this  leading  to  the  railroad  barge  room. 
Here  your  baggage  is  checked  and  your  ticket 
provided,  a  b;^g  of  food  is  offered  you,  and  then 
you  are  taken  on  board  a  barge  which  will  convey 
you  to  the  railroad  station.    You  have  left  your 
fellow-voyagers  abruptly,  all  save  the  railroad- 
ticketed  like  yourself.     Had  you  been  destined 
for  New  York,  you  would  have  gone  down  the 
left  stairway  and  been  free  to  take  the  ferry- 
boat  for  the   Battery.     If  you   had   expected 
friends  to  meet  you,  the  central  stairway  would 
have  led  you  to  the  waiting  room  for  that  pur- 
pose.    Those  three   stairways  are  called   "The 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


63 


1 


Stairs  of  Separation,"  and  there  families  are 
sometimes  ruthlessly  separated  without  warning, 
when  bound  for  different  destinations. 

The  officers,  who  have  treated  you  courteously,  Carefui 
in  strong  contrast  to  the  steamship  and  dock  Supervi.ion 
employees,  keep  track  of  you  until  you  are  safely 
on  board  an  immigrant  car,  bound  for  the  place 
where  your  relatives  are.  Your  ideas  of  great 
New  York  are  limited,  but  you  have  been  saved 
by  this  official  supervision  from  being  swindled 
by  sharpers  or  enticed  into  evil.  You  are  practi- 
cally in  charge  of  the  railway  company,  as  you 
have  been  of  the  steamship  company,  until  you 
are  deposited  at  the  station  where  you  expect  to 
make  your  home.  You  are  ready  to  believe,  by 
this  time,  that  America  is  at  least  a  spacious 
country,  with  room  enough  in  it  for  all  who  want 
to  come.  At  the  same  time  you  will  admit,  as 
you  recall  some  of  your  fellow-passengers  in  the 
steerage,  that  there  should  not  be  room  in  the 
country  for  those  who  ought  not  to  come — not 
only  the  diseased  and  insane,  crippled  and  con- 
sumptive, who  are  shut  out  by  the  law,  but  also 
the  delinquent  and  depraved,  whose  presence 
means  added  ignorance  and  crime.  You  only 
wish  the  inspectors  could  have  seen  some  of  those 
shameless  men  on  shipboard,  so  that  in  spite  of 
their  smooth  answers  they  might  have  been  sent 
back  whence  they  came,  to  prey  upon  the  inno- 
cent there  instead  of  here.     Now  that  it  is  all 


64 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Alien's 
Chance 


over,  you  shudder  for  a  long  time  at  night  as 
memory  recalls  the  steerage  scenes,  through 
which  yf  ir  faith  in  God  and  your  constant 
prayers  preserved  you.* 

In  such  manner  the  alien  gains  his  chance 
to  become  an  American.  What  he  will  make 
of  that  chance  is  a  matter  of  grave  importance  to 
the  land  that  has  opened  to  him  the  doors  of 
opportunity  and  liberty.  Having  seen  how  the 
immigrants  get  into  the  United  States,  let  us  now 
see  how  they  are  kept  out.  When  we  know  what 
the  restrictive  laws  are,  and  how  they  are 
enforced  or  evaded,  we  shall  be  in  a  position  to 
judge  as  to  their  sufficiency,  and  the  need  of 
further  legislation. 

//.     Governmental  Regulation 

The  United  States  has  some  excellent  immi- 
•nd  vioUMon  gration  laws,  the  best  and  most  extensive  of  any 
nat-on,  as  one  would  expect,  since  this  is  the 
iiation  to  which  nearly  all  immigrants  come. 
The  trouble  is  that  every  attempt  is  made  to 
evade  these  laws,  and  where  they  cannot  be 
evaded  they  are  violated.    The  laws  are  of  two 

'This  imaginary  sketch  adheres  in  every  detail  to  the  facts.  The 
medical  examiners  and  mspectors  become  exceedingly  expert  in  de- 
tectiriK  disease  disability,  or  deception.  If  an  overcoat  is  carried  over 
the  shoulder,  they  look  for  a  false  or  stiff  arm.  The  gait  and  general 
appearance  indicate  health  or  want  of  it  to  them,  and  all  who 
tli^h  i.^V^^"  "O""*!  are  turned  aside  for  further  examination. 
«oll!i.,^  thorough.  The  women  have  a  special  inspection  bv  the 
rnatrons,  who  have  to  be  both  expert  and  alert  to  detect  and  reject 
the  unworthv.  The  chief  difficulty  hesin  too  small  a  for«  to 
in  five  da '^       "^^  numbers,  which  have  reached  as  high  as  4s.ooc 


Evasion 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction         65 

classes :  i.  Protective,  in  favor  of  the  immigrant ; 
and  2  Restrictive,  in  favor  of  the  country. 

There  is  a  law  against  overcrowding  on  ship-  Protection  for 
board,  going  back  as  far  as  1819,  but  overcrowd-  **"  immigrant 
ing  has  gone  on  ever  since. »  There  seems  to  be 
no  doubt  that  even  on  the  best  steamships  of  the 
best  lines  there  is  ready  disregard  of  the  law 
when  it  interferes  with  the  profits  to  be  made 
out  of  the  steerage.  Strong  evidence  to  this 
effect  is  given  by  Mr.  Brandenburg.  Here  is  a 
condensed  leaf  from  his  own  experience  which 
shows  how  much  regard  is  paid  to  the  comfort 
and  health  of  the  steerage  passengers  -.^ 

"In  a  compartment  from  nine  to  ten  feet  high  steerage 
and  having  a  space  no  larger  than  six  ordinary  "«»"«'« 
rooms,  were  beds  for  195  persons,  and  214 
women  and  children  occupied  them.  The  ven- 
tilation was  merely  what  was  to  be  had  from  the 
companionway  that  opened  into  .the  alleyway 
and  not  on  the  deck,  the  few  ports  in  the  ship's 
sides,  and  the  scanty  ventilating  shafts.  The 
beds  were  double-tiered  affairs  in  blocks  of  from 
ten  to  twenty,  constructed  of  iron  framework, 
with  iron  slats  in  checker  fashion  to  support 
the  burlap-covered  bag  of  straw,  grass,  or  waste 
which  served  as  a  mattress.    Pillows  there  were 

,/k''^*^™.^"*  reirulations  were  passed  in  1882,  and  if  lived  ud  to 
as  by  trustworthy  testimony  they  are  not.  would  prevent  serious 
ove^crowdm^^  althouKh  the  conditions  as  to  air.  sanrtatio^  and 
sTApp^ndixR'"  ^  '"°'*  unsatisfactory.  For' pr^otecUve  "laws^ 
'Broughton  Brandenburg,  Imported  Americans,  chap.  XI\ . 


66 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Peading  Like 
Animals 


none,  only  cork  jacket  life-preservers  stuck  under 
one  end  of  the  mattress  to  give  the  elevation  of  a 
pillow.  One  blanket  served  the  purpose  of  all 
bedclothing;  it  was  a  mixture  of  wool,  cotton, 
and  jute,  predominantly  jute;  the  length  of  a 
man's  body  and  a  yard  and  a  half  wide.  For 
such  quarters  and  accommodations  the  emigrant 
pays  half  the  sum  that  would  buy  a  first-class 
passage.  A  comparison  of  the  two  classes  shows 
where  the  steamship  company  makes  the  most 
money. 

"Enrolled  in  the  blanket  each  person  found  a 
fork,  spoon,  pint  tin  cup,  and  a  flaring  six-inch- 
wide,  two-inch-deep  pan  out  of  which  to  eat. 
The  passengers  were  instructed  to  form  groups 
of  six  and  choose  a  mess-manager,  who  was 
supposed  to  take  the  big  pan  and  bucket,  get  the 
•'inner  and  drinkables,  and  distribute  the  portions 
to  his  groiin.  After  the  meal,  some  member  was 
supposed  to  collect  the  tin  utensils  and  wash 
them  ready  for  next  time.  But  the  crowd  in  the 
wash-room  was  so  great  that  about  one  third 
of  the  people  chose  to  rinse  oflF  the  things  with  a 
dash  of  drinking  water,  others  never  washed  their 
cups  and  pans.  Yet  the  emigrant  pays  half  the 
first-cabin  rate  for  fighting  for  his  food,  serving 
it  himself,  and  washing  his  own  dishes.  The 
food  was  in  its  quality  good,  but  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  messed  into  one  heap  in  the  big 
pan  was  nothing  short  of  nauseating.    After  the 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction  67 

first  meal  the  emigrants  began  throwing  the 
refuse  on  the  deck  instead  of  over  the  side  or 
into  the  scuppers.  The  result  can  be  imagined. 
It  was  an  extremely  hot  night,  and  the  air  in  the 
crowded  compartment  was  so  foul  I  could  not 
sleep.  The  men  and  boys  about  me  lay  for  the 
most  part  like  logs,  hats,  coats,  and  shoes  oflF, 
and  no  more,  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  tired. 

"My  wife  said  the  babies  in  her  compartment  Remedy 
were  crying  in  relays  of  six,  the  women  had  Propoted 
scattered  bits  of  macaroni,  meat,  and  potatoes 
all  over  the  beds  and  on  the  floor,  and  added 
dishwater  as  a  final  discomfort.  Two  t'^irds  of 
the  emigrants  were  as  clean  as  circumstances 
would  permit,  but  the  other  third  kept  all  in  a 
reign  of  unclean  I  iness.  The  worst  could  not  be 
put  into  print.  The  remedy  for  the  whole  mat- 
ter is  to  pack  fewer  people  in  the  same  ship's 
space,  and  a  regular  service  at  tables.  The  big 
emigrant-carriers  should  be  forced  to  give  up 
a  part  of  their  enormous  profits  in  order  that 
sanitary  conditions  at  least  may  prevail." 

This  certainly  is  not  an  unreasonable  demand,  Laws  Rigidly 
and  proper  laws  with  regard  to  the  steerage  ^"^°'«** 
rigidly  enforced  would  tend  to  discourage  immi- 
gration, instead  of  the  reverse,  since  the  rates 
would  doubtless  be  raised  as  the  nvmihers  were 
lowered.  Cruel  treatment  of  the  helpless  aliens 
by  the  stewards  -id  ship's  officer.-;  should  be 
stopped.     Mr   Br.     lenburgs  description,  which 


J 


68 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


8t««rag« 
Raformt 
NMded 


Protection  for 
tha  Country 


by  no  means  tells  the  whole  story  of  steerage 
horrors,  should  serve  to  institute  reform  tlirou^n 
the  creation  of  a  public  sentiment  that  will 
demand  it.  There  is  no  other  way  to  reach  such 
conditions;  and  here  is  where  the  young  people 
can  exert  their  influence  powerfully  for  good. 
Money  greed  should  not  be  allowed  to  make  the 
steerage  a  disgrace  to  Christian  civilization  and 
an  offense  to  common  decency.  Of  course  it  is 
difficult  to  detect  what  goes  on  in  the  hold  of  a 
great  steamship,  and  when  immigrants  make 
complaint  they  frequently  suffer  for  it.  It  is 
possible,  however,  to  provide  government  inspec- 
tors, and  inspectors  who  will  inspect  and  remain 
proof  against  bribes.  The  one  essential  is  a 
sufficiently  strong  and  insistent  public  opinion. 

///.    Putting  up  the  Bars 

The  need  of  some  regulation  and  restriction 
of  immigration  was  felt  early  in  our  national  life. 
The  fathers  of  the  Republic  did  not  ag^ee  about 
the  matter,  and  in  this  their  descendants  have 
been  like  them.  Washington  questioned  the  advis- 
ability of  letting  any  more  immigrants  come, 
except  those  belonging  to  certain  skilled  trades 
that  were  needed  to  develop  the  new  country. 
Madison  favored  a  policy  of  liberality  and 
inducement,  so  that  population  might  increase 
more  rapidly.  Jefferson,  on  the  other  hand, 
wished  "there  were  an  ocean  of  fire  between  this 


I 


'4 

i 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction         69 

country  and  Europe,  so  that  it  might  be  impos- 
sible for  any  more  immigrants  to  come  hither." 
We  can  ontv  conjecture  what  his  thoughts  would 
be  if  he  were  to  return  and  study  present  condi- 
tions.   Franklin,  certainly  one  of  the  wisest  and 
most  far-seeing  of  the  earlier  statesmen,  feared 
that   immigration    would   tend   to    destroy   the 
homogeneity  essential  to  a  democracy  with  ideals. 
Equally  great  and  good  men  in  our  histor>'  have 
taken  one  or  the  other  side  of  this  question,  from 
the  extreme  of  open  gates  to  that  of  prohibition, 
while  the  people  generally  have  gone  on  about 
their  business  with  the  comfortable  feeling  that 
matters  come  out  pretty  well  if  they  are  not  too 
much  interfered  with. 

While  statesmen  were  theorizing  and  differing, 
conditions  made  the  need  of  some  actual  regula- 
tions  and    restrictions    felt   as   early   as    1824, 
although  the  total  immigration  of  tliat  year  was 
only  7,912,  or  less  than  that  of  a  single  day  at 
present.     The  first  law  resulted  from  abuse  of 
free  admission.    It  was  found  that  some  foreign 
governments     were     shipping     their     paupers, 
diseased  persons,  and  criminals  to  America  as  the 
easiest  and  most  economical  way  to  get  rid  of 
them.    This  it  undoubtedly  was  for  them  ;  but  the 
people  of  New  York  did  not  see  where  the  ease 
and   economy    came    in    on    their    side    of    the 
ledger,  and  in  self-defense,  therefore,  the  state 
passed  the  first  law,  with  intent  to  shut  out  unde- 


Firtt  State 
Law  in  1834 


CS.',;.. 


70 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Oovtrnmant 
Control 


sirables.'  This  state  legislation  nas  the  genesis 
of  national  enactment.  The  history  of  federal 
laws  concerning  aliens  is  covered  compactly  by 
Mr.  Hall,  and  those  interested  in  the  details  of 
this  important  phase  of  the  subject  are  re- 
ferred to  his  book.2  A  comprehensive  table, 
by  means  of  which  all  the  significant  legisla- 
tion can  be  seen  at  a  glance,  will  be  found  in 
Appendix  B. 

In  1882  there  came  a  tremendous  wave  of 
immigration,  with  eflFects  upon  the  labor  market 
that  largely  induced  the  passage  in  that  year  of 
the  first  general  immigration  law.  The  Federal 
Government  now  assumed  entire  control  of  the 
ports  of  entry,  as  it  was  manifestly  essential  to 
have  a  national  policy  and  supervision.  Since 
1862,  when  the'  Chinese  coolies  were  excluded, 
under  popular  pressure.  Congress  has  passed 
eight  Acts  of  more  or  less  importance,  culminat- 
ing in  the  Act  of  1903.3  which  is  said  by  Mr. 
Whelpley.  who  has  collected  all  the  immigration 
laws  of  all  countries,  and  v     herefore  competent 

Kwl^i"  ^'^^  "^  i8J4  reauirc-d  of  vessel  masters  a  report  KiviriR  nan  e 
birthplace,  aKC.  and  occupation  ot  each  ixnmigrant.  and  a  bond  to 
secure  the  city  aKainst  public  charges.  .       "  *  "<ina  to 

'Immigration,  chap.  X. 

'The  main  provisions  are.  i.  Head  tax  of  $2.  7.  Excluded 
classes  numbennR  ,7.  3.  Criminal  offenses  against  the  Immigra- 
»?.«.?•  1H^"T*.''**'"«  .12  cnmes.  4  Rejection  of  the  disced 
aliens.  5.  Manifest,  re<juired  ui  vessel-masters,  with  answers  to 
19  questions.  6.  Examination  of  immiRranU.  7.  Detention  and 
return  of  aliens  8.  Bonds  and  guaranties.  The  law  may  be 
found  in  full  in  the  Appendix  to  Immigration,  and  in  The  Problem  of 
tlie  Immigrant,  chap  VI..  where  the  rules  and  regulations  for 
Its  enforcement  are  also  given.  A  list  of  the  excluded  classes  and 
criminal  offenses  will  be  found  in  Appendix  B  o£  this  volume. 


Alien  Ailinission  and  Restriction  71 

to  judjjo   to  be  "up  to  the  present  time  the  most 
far-reachrns:  measure  of  its  kind  in  u»rce  in  any 
country;  and  the  principles  under  vin^  it  must 
serve    as    the    foundation    for    all    immij-ration 
restriction."    Under  this  law  we  have  practically 
unrestricted    immigration,    with    the    important 
exceptions    that   the    Chinese    lab<  »ers   are   not 
admitted,     and    that    persons     sintering     from 
obvious    contagious    diseases,     insane    jHrsons, 
known  anarchists  and  criminals,  and  a  certain 
small  percentage  likely  to  become  public  charges 
are  debarred.    The  law  does  not  fix  a  property, 
income,   or   educational   qualification,    does   not 
insist  upon  a  knowledge  of  a  trade,  nor  impose 
a  tax.     In  other  words,  we  have  at  present  a 
more  or  less  effective  police  regulation  of  immi- 
gration, but  we  are  not  pursuing  a  policy  of 
restriction  or  limitation. 

As  to  the  Oiinese,  we  have  made  an  excep-  „„  ^„  ^^^ 
tion,  and  one  that  fails  to  commend  itself  to  DUcrim'n.'". 
many.  Grant  that  there  is  much  to  be  said  in 
favor  of  the  proper  restriction  of  Chinese  immi- 
gration, especially  on  the  ground  that  the  immi- 
grants would  come  only  to  earn  money  and 
return  home,  not  to  become  Americans;  that 
there  can  be  no  race  assimilation  between  Chinese 
and  Americans;  and  that  such  bird-of -passage 
cheap  male  labor  is  a  detriment  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  country.  All  the  force  in  these  argu- 
ments applies  equally  to  a  large  proportion  of 


73 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Mission, 
ary's  Plea  for 
th«  Cbineae 


the  immigration  irom  southeastern  Europe  which 
is  admitted.  The  laws  should  be  uniform.  The 
right  to  shut  out  the  Chinese  coolies  is  not  ques- 
tioned ;  but  if  these  be  debarred,  why  not  debar 
the  illiterate  and  unskilled  laboring  class  that 
comes  from  Ireland,  Italy,  and  Austria-Hungary  ? 
The  Chinese  certainly  can  fill  a  place  in  our 
industries  which  the  other  races  do  not  fill  equally 
well.  Their  presence  in  the  kitchen  would  tend 
to  alleviate  domestic  conditions  that  are  respon- 
sible in  large  measure  for  the  breaking  up  of 
American  home  life.  It  is  a  ludicrous  error  to 
suppose  that  all  the  Chinese  who  come  to 
America  are  laundrymen  at  home.  Let  Mrs,  S.  L. 
Baldwin,  a  returned  missionary  who  labored  in 
China  for  eig'hteen  years  and  knows  the  people 
she  pleads  for,  bear  her  witness : 

"The  Qiincse  are  exactly  the  same  class  as 
the  immigrants  from  other  lands.  The  needy 
poor,  with  few  exceptions,  must  ever  be  the 
immigrant  class.  Those  who  come  to  us  across 
the  Pacific  are  largely  from  the  respectable  farm- 
ing class,  who  fall  into  laundry  work,  shoe- 
making,  etc.,  because  these  branches  of  industry 
are  chiefly  open  to  them.  I  have  no  fear  of  the 
Chinese  immigrants  suffering  in  comparison 
with  those  who  come  across  the  Atlantic.  It  is 
not  the  Chinaman  who  is  too  lazy  to  work,  and 
goes  to  the  almshouse  or  jail.  It  is  not  he  who 
reels  through  our  streets,  defies  our  Sabbath  laws, 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction         y^ 

deluges  our  country  with  beer,  and  opposes  all 
work  for  temperance  and  the  salvation  of  our 
sons  from  the  liquor  curse.  It  is  not  the  man 
from  across  the  Pacific  who  commits  the  fear- 
ful crimes,  and  who  is  longing  to  put  his  hand 
to  our  political  wheel  and  rule  the  United 
States.  There  are  no  healthier  immigrants 
coming  to  this  country.  It  is  with  difficulty, 
and  only  under  pressure  of  necessity  they  are 
induced  to  leave  China,  so  that  the  bugbear 
of  millions  of  coolies  overrunning  America  is 
absurd." 

Workers  in  the  Chinese  missions  and  Sunday- 
schools  in  this  country  will  assent  to  Mrs.  Bald- 
win's words.     And  Americans  will   appreciate 
her  sense  of  the  ludicrous  when  an  Irish  washer- 
woman   in    San    Francisco,    indignant    that    a 
Chinese  servant  had  been  brought  to  America 
by  the  missionary,  said  to  her,  "We  have  a  right 
here  and  they  haven't."    As  for  the  Chinese,  the 
time  will  come  when  the  injustice  of  discrimi- 
nating against  a  single  nation  will  be  recognized 
and  the  wrong  be  righted.    There  are  no  more 
stable  converts  to  Christianity,  no  more  generous 
fivers  and  zealous  missionaries,  than  the  Chinese 
converts.    Let  us  have  American  fair  plav,  about 
which  President  Roosevelt  says  so  much',  in  our 
treatment  of  them. 


Call  for 
Pair  Play 


i 


74 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


IV.    Excluding  the  Unfit 

Intelligence        At  EUis  Island  one  may  see  what  is  aptly 
of  inepector.  termed  "the  tragedy  of  the  excluded."^     The 
enforcement  of  the  laws  comes  into  operation  at 
the    ports    of    entry.      Practically    everything 
depends  upon  the  intelligence  and  faithfulness 
of  the  inspectors,  who  are  charged  with  grave 
responsibility.      Immigrant    and    country    are 
equally   at   their   mercy.     Necessarily  a   large 
margin  must  be  left  to  their  judgment  when  it 
comes  to  the  question,  Will  the  applicant  now 
before  me  probably  become  a  public  charge — 
that  is,  fall  into  the  pauper  or  criminal  class — 
or  is  he  of  the  right  stuff  to  make  a  respectable 
and  desirable  American  citizen?     In  cases  of 
plain  insanity  or  idiocy  or  disease  the  decision 
is  easy;  but  when  it  comes  to  the  moral  and 
economic  sphere  an  expert  opinion  is  required. 
Trickeriea    Then,  the  iuspcctors  have  to  be  constantly  on 
Attempted    tj^g  lookout  for  deception  and  fraud.  Immigrants 
who  belong  to  the  excluded  classes  have  been 
carefully  coached  by  agents  interested  in  getting 
them  through  the  examination.     Diseased  eyes 
have  been  doctored  up  for  the  occasion;  lame 
persons  have  been  trained  to  avoid  the  fatal  limp 
during  that  walk  between  the  two  surgeons.    Lies 
have  been  put   into   innocent   mouths   and   the 
beginnings   of   falsehood   into   the   heart.      Mr. 
Adams    gives   this    instance    showing   how    the 

'Joseph  H.  Adams,  in  Hcmie  Missionary,  for  April,  1905. 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction  75 

mind  of  the  inspector  works.  The  line  is 
passing  steadily,  ceaselessly.  A  flashily  dressed 
French  girl  has  plenty  of  money  but  unsatis- 
factory references  and  destination,  and  back  she 
is  turned. 

"Next  comes  a  bookkeeper,  so  he  says.     His 
father  gave  him  money  and  he  was  coming  here 
to  make  his  fortune.     The  inspector  is  not  satis- 
fied and  he  is  turned  over  to  the  'S.  I.'  Board. 
But  his  papers,  money,  and  statements  are  clear 
and  he  is  admitted :  they  give  him  the  benefit  of 
the  doubt  as  they  always  do.     But  next  in  line 
comes  a  well  built  stocky  Pole,  with  nothing  in 
the  world  but  a  carpet  bag.  a  few  bundles,  and 
a  small  showing  of  money.    Ambition  is  written 
all  over  his  face  and  he  is  admitted.    'Now,'  says 
the  recorder,  pausing  for  a   Jiioment,   'see  the 
diflFerence  between  these  two  gents.     The  first 
duffer  will  look  around  for  a  job.  spend  time 
and  money  to  get  something  to  suit  him,  and  keep 
his  job  for  a  short  time ;  then  he  will  give  it  up, 
run  through  his  money,  borrow  from  his  friends, 
and  then  give  them  all  the  cold  hand.    He  won't 
wear  well,  and  his  dad  knew  it  when  he  sent  him 
over,  but  he  was  glad  to  get  rid  of  him.    So  lots 
"f  them  are.    Now  look  at  the  difference  between 
him  and  that  Pole.    1  le  knows  nothing  but  work. 
Look  at  his  eye.s,  mild  but  good.     J^e  has  been 
'rought  up  next  to  mother  earth ;  turn  him  loose 
from  th'-  train  when  he  reaches  his  destination 


Discretion 


Picking  the 
Winning  Mau 


76 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


and  he  will  dig.  He  won't  hang  around  looking 
for  a  job,  but  he  will  till  the  soil  and  before  you 
or  I  know  it  he  will  have  crops  and  that  is  what 
he  will  live  on.  He  comes  from  a  hard  country, 
is  tough,  and  when  you  and  I  are  going  around 
shivering  in  an  overcoat,  he  will  be  going  around 
in  his  shirt  sleeves.  That  is  the  stuflf  we  want 
here,  not  the  first  kind,  with  flabby  hands  and 
sapped  vitality.'  Sure  enough  the  bookkeeper 
did  not  wear  well,  and  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  police,  some  months  later,  he  was  deported 
under  the  three-year  limitation  law,  and  the 
country  was  better  for  it." 
v^i^  The  inspectors  are  wise  in  showing  partiality 

p«rti«iity,  «nd  to  the  men  who  have  plenty  of  days'  work  in 
Work  Praised  ^^^^^  ^^^^  .^  ^^^^  ^^^^  j^^^  Hioney.    It  is  not  at 

all  safe  to  judge  the  immigprants  as  desirable  or 
otherwise  according  to  the  amount  of  money  per 
capita  they  bring.  It  is  the  head  and  not  the  head- 
money  that  should  be  looked  at.  Think  of  the 
responsibility.  More  than  300,000  women  passed 
through  the  "moral  wicket"  at  Ellis  Island  last 
year.  Of  course  many  of  bad  quality,  men  and 
women  both,  get  through,  for  inspectors  on  too 
meager  salaries  are  not  omniscient,  but  a  good 
word  should  be  said  for  these  public  servants, 
who  in  the  main  are  conscientiously  performing 
a  delicate  and  difficult  task.^     Let  us  see  some 

•The  ImmiKTation  Bureau  has  1,214  ''nspectors  and  special 
agents.  The  Commissioner.General  says  of  them  -They  are  spread 
throughout  the  country  from  Maine  to  southern  Caufornia.    They  are 


oking 
e  you 

what 
mtry, 
round 
round 

want 
s  and 
:eeper 
ids  of 
>orted 
d  the 

tiality 
)rk  in 
not  at 
ble  or 
ey  per 
head- 
of  the 
massed 
id  last 
;n  and 
)n  too 

good 
•vants, 
liming 

some 


1  special 
re  spread 
They  are 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction         yj 

of  the  results  of  their  work.  This  w-'ll  give  an 
idea  of  the  large  numbers  who  ought  never  to 
have  been  allowed  to  leave  home. 

The  following  table  shows  the  principal  classes   Record  of 
of  excluded  for  the  past  twelve  years,  with  the  *»>•  D«b«r«* 
total  debarred  for  each  year,  and  the  percentage : 

THE  DEBARRED  FOR  THE  YE.\RS  1892-1905 


B 

Year 

Immi- 

i 

Kranti 

& 

5 

s 

.S 

SI 

•c 

B 

17 

1892 

579.6fi3i    4 

1893 

439,730'     3 

8 

1894 

285,f)31,    4 

5 

1895 

258.536     6 

1896 

343.267      1 

10 

1897 

230.832      1 

6 

1898 

229.299      1 

12 

1899 

311.715      1 

19 

190G 

448,572      1 

,f2 

1901 

487.918     6 

16 

1902 

648.743     7 

27 

1903 

857.046     1 

23 

1904 

812.870    16 

SS 

19a5 

1^26,499    38 

92 

2S-I 


1.002 
431 
802 
1.714 
2,010 
1,277 
2.261 
2..599 
2.974 
2,798 
3.944 
5.812 
4.798 
7.898 


I 


y 


6 


80  :  26 

81  ;  12 


15 


258 

3(8 

393 

309 

709 

1.773 

1,560 

2,198 


8 
4 

i 

2 

8 

4 

7 

9 

51 

Vt 

3?> 


li 

23 


A 


932 

518 

553 

694 

776 

328 

417 

741 

833 

327 

275 

1,086 

1..501 

1.164 


I 

3 

f2 


2.164  i  0.5 
1.a53  i  0  4 
1.389  10 
2.419  1.0 
2,799  I  0.8 
1.617  I  0  8 


3.030 
3,798 
4.246 
3.516 
4.974 
8,769 
7,994 
11.48r. 


1.4 
1.3 
1.3 
0.8 
0.8 
1.1 
1.1 
0.8 


Total  debarred  in  the  fourteen  yean,  59,248. 

The  debarred  have  the  right  of  appeal,  from   Right  of 
the  Special  Inquiry  Board  whicli  excludes  them,   ^pp**' 
to  the  Commissioner  of  the   Port,  then  to  the 
Commissioner-General,  and  finally  to  the  Secre- 

thoroughly  orRanized  under  competent  chiefs,  many  of  them  working 
regardless  of  hours,  whether  breaking  the  seals  of  frei^'ht  cars  n 
the^  southern  border  to  prevent  the  smuKKling  of  Chinese,  or 
watchmK  the  countless  routes  of  inKress  from  Canada,  ever  alert 
and  willing,  equally  efficient  in  detecting  the  inadmissible  alien 
and  the  pretended  citizen.  The  Bureau  asserts  with  confidence  that 
excepting  a  very  few,  the  government  of  this  country  has  no  more 
.ible  and  faithful  servants  in  its  employ,  either  civil  or  military,  than 
the  immigration  officers. 


78 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Bxclutlon 
by  Races 


tary  of  Commerce  and  Labor.  The  steamship 
lines  that  brought  them  have  to  pay  costs  of 
detention  and  de|)ortation,  which  is  one  means  of 
making  these  lines  careful. 

A  second  table,  which  shows  the  exclusion  by 
races,  will  repay  study.  It  is  given  in  Appendix 
A.  It  not  only  shows  where  the  bulk  of  the 
excluded  belong,  but  reveals  not  a  little  con- 
cerning the  character  of  those  admitted  who 
come  from  the  same  races.  The  intention  of  the 
present  Commissioner-General  is  to  enforce  the 
laws  strictly,  yet  in  a  humane  spirit.  Comparing 
the  figures  for  the  two  years  1903- 1904,  he 
says: 

"The  most  significant  feature  of  this  state- 
ment is  the  large  increase  in  the  number  of  idiots, 
insane  persons,  and  paupers  during  1905,  which, 
coupled  with  an  mcrease  of  twenty-five  per  cent, 
in  the  number  of  diseased  aliens,  justifies  the 
Bureau  in  directing  attention  to  the  flagrant  and 
wilful  disregard  by  the  ocean  carriers  of  the 
laws  for  the  regulation  of  their  business  of  secur- 
ing alien  passengers  destined  for  the  United 
States."! 

This  brings  up  a  point  of  vast  importance  in 

00^^*""°   "^o*"^  ^'^y^  t'^^"  o"e.    The  official  reports  charge 

wholesale  deception,  evasion,  and  fraud  upon  the 

great  transportation  companies.    The  fact  stands 

for  itself  that  in  1904  they  were  fined  more  than 

•Commissioner-Generars  Report  for  loos.  p-  41. 


Increaae  of 
Undesirable 


Fraud  of 


<<,r^'js^w^sms- 


Pataage  Feet 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction         79 

$31,000  under  the  section  of  the  law  imposing  a 
$100  penalty  for  bringing  a  diseased  alien  whose 
tlisease  might  have  been  detected  by  a  competent 
medical  examination  at  the  port  of  departure. 
For  many  years  these  companies  have  in  doubtful 
cases  demanded  double  passage  money,  so  that 
they  might  make  a  profit  both  ways  if  the  alien 
were  rejected.  The  Italian  government  has 
passed  an  Act  giving  an  alien  right  to  recover  the 
money  illegally  retained  in  this  way.  showing  the 
practice,  and  the  government  opinion  of  it. 

The    truth    is.    the    transportation    agent   hns   Artificial 
become  a  figure  of  international  consequence  and   Swelling  ot 
concern.    The  artificial  cause  behind  the  present    "  " 

unprecedented  exodus  from  Europe,  according 
to  Whelpley.  is  the  abnormal  activity  of  the 
transportation  companies  in  their  effort  to 
secure  new  and  profitable  cargo  for  their  ships. 
In  1900  over  $118,000,000  was  invested  in  trans- 
atlan.-:  steamship  lines,  which  are  largely  owned 
by  foreigners.  New  lines  to  the  Mediterranean 
have  been  put  on  with  distinct  purpose  to  swell 
the  Italian  and  Slav  immigration.  Rate  cutting 
has  at  times  made  it  po-^sible  for  the  steerage  pas- 
senger to  go  from  r.iv.  rpool  to  New  York  for  as 
low  as  $8.75.  The  average  rate  is  not  high 
enough  to  deter  anyone  who  really  wants  to 
come.  An  English  line,  in  return  for  establishing 
a  line  direct  from  a  Mediterranean  port,  has 
secured  from  the  Hungarian  government  a  guar- 


8o 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


antee  of  3c  .000  immigrants  a  year  from  its  ter- 
ritory, 
aeiictution  The  law  forbids  transportation  companies  or 

Law  Violated  ^^^  owners  of  vessels  to  "directly  or  through 
agents,  either  by  written,  printed,  or  oral  solici- 
tations, solicit,  invite,  or  encourage  the  immigra- 
tion of  any  aliens  into  the  United  States  except 
by  ordinary  commercial  letters,  circulars,  adver- 
tisements, or  oral  representations,  stating  the 
sailings  of  their  vessels  and  terms  and  facilities 
of  transportation  therein."  That  this  restrictive 
provision  is  persistently  evaded  is  made  plain  by 
the  reports  of  government  inspectors  sent  abroad 
to  investigate.  The  annual  migration  involves 
more  than  a  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  and 
where  money  is  to  be  made  law  is  easily 
disobeyed. 

One  of  the  inspectors  says  the  chief  evil  in  this 
solicitation  business  is  the  so-called  "runner." 
Here  is  his  descrtpti^^n  of  this  mischievous  genus 
homo.  "It  is  he  wli  >  goes  around  in  eastern  and 
southern  Europe  from  city  to  city  and  village  to 
village  telling  fairy  tales  about  the  prosperity  of 
many  immigrants  in  America  and  the  opportuni- 
ties offered  by  the  United  States  for  aliens.  The 
runner  does  not  know  of  anyone  who  is  undesir- 
able; he  claims  to  be  all-powerful,  that  he  has 
representatives  in  every  port  who  can  'open  the 
door'  of  America  to  anyone.  It  is  he  who  induces 
many  a  diseased  person  to  attempt  the  journey. 


Tb«  Ubiq< 
nitous  and 
Unacrupuloua 
"Runner" 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction 


?i 


4 


i 


and  it  is  also  he  and  his  associates  who  do  their 
best  to  have  the  undesirables  admitted.  The 
steamship  comj  anies,  as  a  rule,  do  not  deal  with 
these  runners  directly  and  disclaim  all  responsi- 
bility for  llieir  nefarious  practices.  But  the 
©facial  agents  of  the  st<amship  companies  do 
pay  their  runners  commissions  for  every  immi- 
grant referred  to  them.  I  have  especially  studied 
this  problem  along  the  borders  of  Germany, 
Russia,  and  Austrian  Galicia.  Here  most  of  the 
emigrants  are  smuggled  across  the  frontiers  by 
these  runners  and  robbed  of  the  greater  part  of 
their  cash  possessions.  When  they  arrive  at  the 
'control  station'  it  is  remarkable  that  most  emi- 
grant? have  cards  w  'th  the  address  of  a  certain 
steamship  ticket  agent,  and  the  agent,  on  the 
other  hand,  has  a  list  of  all  the  individuals  wlio 
were  smuggled  acro=  the  frontiers.  When  I 
asked  one  of  these  representatives  how  this  was 
done,  he  told  me  that  he  paid  'good  commissions' 
to  the  runner  on  the  other  side  of  the  frontier 
for  each  case.  When  steamship  companies  and 
their  agents  stop  paying  commissions  to  runners 
for  emigrants  referred  to  them,  individuals  vill 
only  by  their  own  initiative  attempt  to  come  to  the 
United  States,  and  most  of  those  considered 
undesirable  will  remain  at  their  native  homes."' 
Violations  of  law  abouiui.  Smuggling  persons 
is  regarded  with  much  the  same  moral  leniency 

^Immigration  Report  f   -  1005.  p.  56. 


Law  111 
Cont^MTipt 


1 


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(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


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S2 


Aliens  or  American?? 


How  the 
Laborers  are 
Engaged 


as  smug'jjling  goods.  The  law  forbids  importa- 
tion of  persons  under  contract  to  work.  In  April 
last  two  Italian  steamships  carried  back  to 
Europe  more  than  i.ooo  laborers,  who  had  been 
brought  over  in  violation  of  the  contract-labor 
laws.  Commissioner  Watchorn  had  word  from 
his  special  investigators  abroad  that  the  men 
had  been  collected  in  the  Balkan  States  to  work 
f f  .  padroncs  in  this  country.  So  back  went  the 
tliousand  Slavs:  but  it  was  a  chance  discovery. 
The  men  admitted  that  the  padrones  had  paid 
their  passage  and  agreed  to  furnish  them  work. 
They  said  the  rosiest  conditions  had  been  painted 
before  their  eyes,  and  they  believed  "big  money" 
was  to  be  made  here.  The  steamship  companies 
had  to  bear  the  expense  of  taking  them  back,  but 
the  padrones  have  not  suffered  any  penalty,  and 
will  go  on  with  their  nefarious  work. 

Mr.  Brandenburg  learned  from  an  Italian 
woman  that  her  husband  had  been  commissioned 
by  a  contractor  in  Pittsburg  to  go  into  the  Italian 
provinces  of  Austria  and  engage  200  good  stone- 
masons, 200  good  carpenters,  and  an  indefinite 
number  of  unskilled  laborers.  These  people  were 
to  be  put  in  touch  with  sub-agents  of  lines  sailing 
from  Hamburg,  Fiume,  and  Bremen,  and  these 
agents  were  to  be  accountable  for  these  contract 
laborers  being  got  safely  into  the  United  States. 
This  woman  said  many  of  her  neighbors  in 
Pittsburg  had  come  into  the  country  as  contract 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction  83 

laborers  and  held  the  law  in  great  contempt,  as 
It  was  merely  a  matter  of  bcinjr  sufficientlv 
instructed  and  prepared,  and  no  official  at  Boston 
or  Ellis  Island  could  tell  the  difference.'  \\"hv 
should  not  the  law  be  held  in  contempt,  not  onlv 
this  one  but  all  law.  by  the  immigrant  who  i's 
introduced  to  America  through  its  violation,  and 
tramed  to  perjure  himself  at  the  outset  of  his  new 
career?  Does  not  the  Commissioner-General 
sound  a  note  of  warning  when  he  says: 

"It  is  not  reasonable  to  anticipate  that  if  the  The  chri.tian 
great  transportation  lines  do  not  respect  the  laws  ^uty 
of  this  country  their  nhen  passengers  will  do  so. 
nor  can  it  be  conceded  that  those  aliens  whose 
entrance  to  the  United  States  is  effected  in  spite 
of  the  law  are  desirable  or  even  safe  additions  to 
our  population."^ 

It  is  painful  to  think  that  such  conditions  can 
exist  in  connection  with  so  vital  a  matter  as  immi- 
gration. But  it  is  better  to  have  the  facts  known, 
in  order  that  a  remedy  may  be  found.  Publicity  is 
the  safety  of  republics  and  communities.  And  the 
disclosures  of  the  lengths  to  which  men  will  go 
in  order  to  make  money  should  give  new  and 
mighty  impulse  to  those  who  believe  in  righteous- 
ness and  have  not  bowed  to  the  god  mammon. 
If  Mie  work  of  Christianizing  the  aliens  is  made 
harder  by  the  experiences  through  whicli  they 

'BrouRhton  Brandenburg,  Import' '.  Atnfrtcans.  33. 
^Immigration  Report  for  1Q05,    p.  48. 


84 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


pass  and  the  examples  they  have  set  before  them 
by  unscrupulous  persons,  it  must  be  undertaken 
with  so  much  the  more  zeal.  Respect  for  law 
must  be  preserved,  and  one  of  the  best  ways  to 
accomplish  this  is  to  see  to  it  that  the  laws  are 
enforced  and  the  violators  of  them  punished,  even 
though  they  represent  giant  corporations  and 
vast  capital. 


QUESTIONS   FOR  CHAPTER   II 

Aim  :  To  Realize  the  Necessity  of  Just  and  Ade- 
quate Laws  for  the  Ahmission  and  Restriction 
OF  Immigrants 

I.  Method  of  Admission. 

1.  What  proportion  of  the  immigrants  now  com- 
ing land  at  New  York? 

2.  What  is  Ellis  Island  like — materially — spiritu- 
ally? 

3.  Suppose  yourself  an  immigrant:  what  steps 
would  you  take  to  reach  New  York?  What 
processes  would  you  undergo  on  landing? 
How  would  you  be  directed? 

II.  Governmental  Regulation. 

4.  What  two  kinds  of  government  regulation  are 
practicable?    Are  both  in  force? 

5.  Do  the  steamship  companies  obey  the  law? 
with  regard  to  its  letter?  to  its  real  intent? 

III.  Restriction. 

t*  Do  you  think  unrestricte'  'nimirjration  is  best 

for   our  country? 
7.    Why  is  the  present  discrimination  against  the 

Chinese  not  just? 


Alien  Admission  and  Restriction  So 

8.  When  and  to  what  extent  was  control  over 
immigration  assumed  by  the  United  States 
Government? 

S>.  What  measures  were  passed  in  igoj?  Has 
there  been  any  action  since? 

10.  What  classes  of  immigrants  are  excluded  as 
unfit ?    Who  decides  in  case  of  doubt? 

11.  Are  many  immigrants  sent  back?  Why  do  the 
steamship  companies  bring  the  unfit? 

IV.  Violation. 

12.  How  is  immigration  solicited?  How  is  it 
coerced  ? 

13.  What  is  the  purpose  and  what  the  actual  work- 
ing of  the  "Contract-Labor  Law"? 

V.  What   Can   the   Christian  Public   do   to   Improve 
Conditions? 

I4-*  Can  we  expect  immigrants  to  obey  our  laws, 
if  they  are  started  in  such  ways  ?    Why  not  ? 

15-  Has  Christian  public  opinion  any  special  duty 
in  this  matter?    What  is  it? 


References  for  Advanced  Study. — Chapter  H 

I.  Visit  and  inspect  if  possible,  some  receiving  station 
for  immigrants,  and  report;  or  else  consult  the 
statements  and  charts  of  Reports  of  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Immigration,  for  year  ending  June  30, 
190S. 

n.    Describe   the    Brandenburgs    during   life   among 
Italians,  and  journey  to  this  country  as  immi- 
grants; their  aims,  and  the  results  achieved. 
Brandenburg;    Imported    Americans.     IV,    XIII. 
XV,  XXII. 


86 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


III.  The  present  regulation  of  immigrants,  with   spe- 
cial reference  to  "The  Excluded." 

Laws   for    1903. 

Hall     immigration,  216-231. 

Brandenburg:  Imported  Americans,  ^8-274. 

IV.  Is  there  need  for  further  restriction? 
Hail:  Immigration,  XI,  XII. 
Hunter:  Poverty,  VI. 

Charities  and  The  Commons,  issue  for  March  31, 
1906. 


pc- 


'Ihc  evils  attendant  upon  unrt'stncti\l 
immisration  arc  not  theoretical  but 
actual.  Emigration  from  one  place 
becomes  immigration  into  another.  It  is 
pn  international  affair  of  greatest  impor- 
tance, and  should  be  speedily  recognised 
as  such.—].   D.    Whclpley. 


i  31. 


Ill 

PROBLEMS  OF  LEGISLATION  AXD 
DISTRIDUTIOX 


87 


The  immiRration  question  in  this  countn.-  has  never 
had  the  attention  to  which  its  importance  entitles  it.  It 
has  sometimes  been  the  scapegoat  of  religious  and 
racial  prejudices,  and  always,  in  recent  years,  an  annual 
>-acrifice  to  the  gods  of  transportation. — I'tcscutt  F. 
Hull. 

It  is  exasperating  to  any  patriotic  American  to  have 
brought  convincingly  before  him  the  proofs  of  a  whole- 
sale evasion  of  a  very  carefully  planned  code  of  laws 
which  he  fain  would  think  is  a  sufficient  protection  of 
his  country's  be>t  iinire>.ts.  It  is  more  annoying  to 
realize  that  the  successful  evaders  are  tor  the  most  part 
foreigners,  and  those,  too,  of  commonly  despised  races. 
1  he  conclusion  is  plain:  Seek  the  grotuids  on  which 
to  deny  pass.age  to  undesirable  emigrants  who  wish  to 
come  to  the  United  States,  in  the  villages  from  which 
they  emanate.  In  the  communes  of  their  nativity  the 
truth  is  known  and  cannot  be  hidden. — Broughton 
Brandcnhut  g. 

The  mesh  of  the  law  needs  to  be  stiffened  rather  than 
relaxed.  The  benefit  of  the  doubt  belongs  to  the  United 
States  rather  than  to  the  alien  who  clamors  for  admit- 
tance.— C jmmissioncr-Gcncral  Sar.cttt. 

Distribution,  rather  than  who'^s-dc  restriction,  is 
being  more  and  more  recognize  '  i  ?al  way  out  of 
the  difficulties  present*  d  by  or-  -o  imassimilated 

immigration. — Ginn  C.  St^craiic 

The  need  is  to  devise  some  system  by  which  im<lc- 
sirablc  immigrants  shall  be  kept  out  entirely,  while 
desirable  immigrants  are  i)roperly  distributed  through- 
out the  country. — President  Roosevelt. 


88 


Ill 


_^         PROBLEMS  OF  LF.rjSLATIOX  AXD 
DISTRII}LTI()\ 

/.     The  Present  Situation 

'Y^UKRE  is  a  fjrowinj,'  conviction  that  sonic-    Difficulties  in 
thing  ouglit  to  be  (Icnie  to  check  the  i)rescnt    *"'  ^'*' 
j    enoniKjus   inflow  of  immigrants.      But   wlicn   it 
comes  to  what  that  sometliing  is.  difficuhies  at 
;    once  arise.  There  are  so  many  foreigners  already 
in  -Vmerica.  and  so  many  children  of  foreign-horn 
I    parents,  that  it  is  impossible  to  touch  the  stream 
]    at  any  point  without  protest  from  some  source. 
I    As  some  one  says,  "Vou  do  not  have  to  go  very 
:    far  back  in  the  family  line  of  any  of  us  to  find  an 
^    immigrant.     Scratch  an  American  and  you  find 
I    a  foreigner."    And  not  a  few  of  these  fc^-eigners 
I    sympathize  with  the  Irishman  who  said  to  a  ladv 
j    against  whom  he  had  a  grievance  because  she 
I    insisted  on  having  a  Chinese  servant,  "We  have 
I    a  right  here  that  those  who  are  here  bv  the  mere 
^    accident  of  birth  have  not."    Cm  the  other  hand. 
it  was  a  foreigner  of  wide  vision  who  said:  "I  do 
not  believe  there  is  any  peculiar  virtue  in  Ameri- 
.     can    birth,    or    that    Americans    are    (per    sc) 
-;   superior  to  all  other  nations ;  but  I  do  believe  that 
:   they  are  better  fitted  than  all  others  to  govern 
^  89 


ijO 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The 

Immigration 
Conference 
of  1903 


Conclusion* 
Reached 


their  own  country.  They  made  the  c<  iuntr.\  nliat 
it  is.  and  ou^lit  to  have  the  first  vcice  in  deter- 
mining what  it  is  to  be.  In  this  alone  consists 
their  sui)eri()rity."' 

It  is  signilp  ant  and  hopeful  that  men  are  think- 
ing upon  the  subject.  What  we  want  is  fu.I  and 
fair  discussion  and  thorough  information.  Noth- 
ing is  so  perilous  in  a  democracy  as  ignorance 
and  indifference.  It  is  far  better  for  men  to  dis- 
agree-thoughtfully  than  to  agree  thoughtlessly. 
What  all  patriotic  and  Christian  men  seek  is  the 
best  good  of  this  country,  which  means  so  much 
to  the  whole  world  as  the  supreme  experiment 
of  self-governi  ent.  That  the  people  are  awaken- 
ing was  sh  by  the  Immigration  Conference 
in  Xew  .k  in  December  of  1905.  when  five 
hundred  men,  most  of  them  appointed  by  their 
state  governors,  gathered  under  the  auspices  of 
the  National  Civic  Federation  to  discuss  the 
whole  question  of  immigration.  The  immigration 
experts  of  the  country  were  present,  and  the 
company  inci,  'ed  United  States  Senators  and 
Representatives,  college  presidents  and  ijrofes- 
sors,  leading  editors,  lawyers  and  clerg\ii  ,  and 
prominent  labor  leaders. 

No  such  conference  on  this  subject  has  before 
been  held,  and  the  results  of  the  discussion, 
which  was  for  the  most  part  as  temperate  and 
sensible  as  it  was  straightforward,  were  such 

iProf.  H.  H.  Boyesen. 


Legislation  and  Distribution 


91 


as  to  bring  about  a  better  understanding  between 
the  men  who  are  supposed  to  !)e  tiieorists  an<l  tlie 
representatives  of  American  lalv)r.     The  resohi- 
tions    unanimously    adopted    wt  r.-    conservative 
and  practical.    The  most  important  recommenda- 
tions call   for  admission  tests  in   Fuirope  rather 
than  after  the  alien  lias  reached   America,   for 
the  spread  of  information  leading  to  letter  dis- 
tribution, and  for  the  establishment  of  a  c(.m- 
mission  to  investigate  the  subject  of  immigration 
in  all  its  relations,  including  the  violations  and 
evasions  of  the  present  law.     Undoubtedly  such 
a  commission,  appointed  by  the  president  and 
possessed  of  competent  authority,  could  accom- 
plish much  good.     I'.t  one  thing,  it  could  keep 
the  matter  before  the  people  and  wisely  guide 
public  sentiment. 

}Iowever  much  men  may  ditTer  in  view  as  The  Right  of 
to  specific  legislation,  one  point  ought  to  be  ^*'^-P'»«"<:- 
regarded  as  settled.  That  is.  the  right  of  Con- 
gress to  pass  such  laws  as  may  be  deemed  essen- 
tial to  safeguard  American  institutions  aii<I 
liberties.  A  nation  has  the  inalienable  right  to 
protect  itself  against  foreign  invasion;  and  it 
does  not  matter  whether  the  invasion  be  armed 
or  under  the  guise  of  'nvnigration.  Xo  foreign 
nation  has  the  right  to  send  its  peoples  to  Amer- 
ica, or  by  persecution  to  drive  them  forth  upon 
other  nations,  and  no  foreigner  has  anv  inherent 
right  to  claim  admission  to  the  United  States. 


tion 


9a 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Welfare  of  th« 
Statt  Buprtina 


Case*  that  call 
for  Reform 


Astonishing 
Abuses 


Right  is  determined,  in  migration  as  in  civi( 
relations,  not  by  the  will  or  vhim  of  the  individ- 
ual, but  by  the  welfare  of  the  state.  I'urther  than 
this,  the  government  has  the  right  to  deport  al 
any  time  any  aliens  who  may  l)e  regarded  as  unfit 
to  remain.  There  ought  to  be  no  confusion  as  tc 
rights  in  this  matter. 

The  question  recurs,  however,  is  there  need 
of  doing  anything?  As  to  this  President  Roose- 
velt and  the  Commissioner-General  of  Immigra- 
tion are  agreed.  In  his  last  annual  message  the 
President  recommended  the  prohibition  of  immi 
gration  through  Canada  and  Mexico,  thv 
strengthening  of  our  exclusion  laws,  heavier 
restraints  upon  the  steamship  companies,  and 
severer  penalties  for  enticing  immigrants.  It  i« 
a  striking  fact  that  nearly  all  of  the  proposed 
additions  to  our  laws  are  intended  to  stop  the 
evasion  and  violation  of  the  laws  we  have,  which 
are  made  ineflfective  by  fraud  and  questionable 
practices  of  the  most  extensive  kind.  A  receni 
writer^  presents  this  matter  in  condensed  fomi 
worthy  of  study,  giving  this  "astonishing  cata- 
logue of  abuses,"  brought  to  light  by  special 
inspectors  in  the  employ  of  the  Immigratior 
Bureau : 

"i.  The  importation  of  contraci  laborers,  usuallj 
under  the  direction  of  padrones,  from  Greece,  Italy 
and   Austria-Hungarj*. 

"2.  The  smuggling  of  immigrants  across  the  Canadian 
•Frederick  Austin  Cgg,  in  Outlook  for  May  5,  iqo6. 


Legislation  and  Distributi<»»i  93 

and  Mexican  borders  who  would  bo  certain  of  rejection 
at  our  Atlantic  ports. 

"3  The  'patching  up*  of  immigrants  afflicted  with 
favus,  trachoma,  and  other  loathsome  or  ctmtagioiis 
diseases  so  that  they  can  get  pa>t  tlic  inspectors  without 
detection,  e-^n  though  the  process  is  likely  to  augment 
their  sufferings  later. 

"4.  The  forgery  and  sale  of  spurious  naturalization 
certificates  and  the  repeated  use  of  tlie  same  c«'r»iticaics 
passed  back  and  forth  between  relatives     .      friends. 

"S  The  assisting  of  immigration,  ..  '  1  r  by  local 
authorities  in  Europe  or  by  earlier  comer    ..1  America. 

"6.  The  stimulating  of  immigration  by  transportation 
companies  and  their  armies  of  paid  agents  and  sub- 
agents  in  Europe." 

As  a  result,  Mr.  Ogg  says,  of  the  widespread  a  pi.ia 
operations  through  these  underground  channels  N.cet.tty 
there  is  an  abnormal  immigration  movement  so 
vast  as  "to  override  and  all  but  reduce  to  a  mere 
joke  our  whole  restrictive  system.  That  an 
appalling  number  of  aliens  who  are  on  the  verge 
of  dependency,  def  -tivenei,,  and  delinquency 
do  somehow  contr.  to  get  into  the  country 
every  year  is  a  fnct  too  well  known  to  call  for 
verificPtion  1,.  re.  Nobody  undertakes  to  deny 
it."  There  is  j  lain  necessity,  therefore,  that  some 
mcA,-  of  redeeming  the  situation  should  be 
found. 

//.    Proposed  Legislation 
The  Commissioner-General  of  Immigration,  in 
his  report  for  1905,  devotes  much  space  to  new 
or  amendatory  legislation,  which  he  regards  as 


Three  Recom- 
mendatlona 


94 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Value  of 

International 

Conference 


Immigration 
Bills  in 
Congress 


a  necessity.!  To  bring  the  steamship  companies 
to  stricter  regard  for  law,  he  would  raise  the 
penalty  for  carrying  diseased  persons  from  $ioo 
to  $500.  He  favors  the  debarring  of  illiterates, 
and  as  a  special  recommendation  proposes  an 
international  conference  of  immigration  experts, 
with  a  view  to  secure  by  treaty  or  convention  the 
cooperation  of  foreign  countries  from  which 
aliens  migrate  hither,  both  in  reducing  the  num- 
ber of  immigrants  and  preventing  the  inadmissi- 
ble and  undesirable  classes  from  leaving  their 
own  homes. 

Such  a  conference  would  certainly  be  con- 
ducive to  a  good  understanding  between  nations, 
would  doubtless  secure  an  eflfective  restraint  of 
the  transportation  agencies,  and  throw  such  light 
upon  the  attitude  of  foreign  governments  toward 
our  present  system  of  immigration  restriction  as 
would  enable  Congress  to  decide  intelligently  what 
additional  measures  are  necessary  to  protect  this 
country  from  the  dangers  of  an  increasing  inHux 
of  aliens.  This  is  an  admirable  recommendation. 
As  Mr.  Whelpley  says,  it  is  a  question  of  emigra- 
tion as  well  as  immigration,  and  since  two  coun- 
tries are  interested  in  the  migrants,  the  whole 
matter  is  properly  one  for  international  confer- 
ence and  action. 

The  interest  taken  by  Congress  in  immigra- 
tion is  indicated  by  the  introduction  in  the  House 

'A  synopsis  of  these  recommendations  will  be  foimd  in  Appendix  B. 


panics 
56  the 
1  $100 

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which 
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T. 

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louse    1 

idix  B. 


Legislation  and  Distribution  95 

(luring  the   session   of    1906   of   nineteen   bills 
to  regulate  or  restrict  immigration,  while  a  num- 
ber were  introduced  in  the  Senate  also.     The 
House  Committee  on  Immigration,  of  which  Mr. 
Gardner,  of  Massachusetts,  is  chairman,  took  all 
the  bills  into  consideration  and  reported  a  cotn- 
prehensive  Bill  to  Regulate  the  Immigration  of 
Aliens  into  the  United  States.     This  proposed 
law  advances  considerably  beyond  the  Act  of 
1903,  which  it  is  designed  to  replace.    It  raises 
the  head  tax  from  $2  to  $5,  introduces  the  read- 
ing test,i  and  practically  creates  a  money  test 
also,  by  requiring  every  male  immigrant  to  have 
$25  in  hand  at  the  time  of  examination.^     The 
money  from  the  head  tax  is  to  constitute  a  perma- 
nent immigration  fund,  to  defray  not  only  the 

I  cost  of  the  Immigration  Bureau,  but  also  that  of 
maintaining  an  information  bureau,  to  save  immi- 
grants from  being  deceived  and  show  them  where 

;  they  are  most  wanted  and  likely  to  succeed.^* 
The  section  in  this  proposed  legislation  that 

r^n  v*^;^fKi.  "^t!  "i'-  *''^^  'njmiffrant  over  sixteen  years  of  age  physi  - 
fally  capable  of  reading  shall  be  adm  tted  to  the  United  Stalls  unt  1 
ne  has  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  pro^r  insiSction  offir?,i= 
'.n*L**''-'='^Kr*f-  ^"«'^*»  °'  ^"^^  °ther  tongue'^  .  7^rov"ded\h^ 
Unite? iffot'"  al/e"  °ver  sixteen,  or  a  person  now  o^  hereaf  er  in  the 
,HSL^*^  f  **^?*  °^  l^e  age.  may  bring  in  or  send  for  his  w^fe  mother 
affianced  wife,  or  father  over  fifty-five,  if  they  are  otherwL^dmisl 
sible.  whether  able  to  read  or  write  or  n-^t.  "'"erwise  aamis- 

deemed^HkpJ'j^'' w"^  ""^'^  *l!f"  •'""-'^-ant  over  sixteen  shall  be 
aeemea  likely  19  become  a  public  charge  un  ess  he  shows  to  th^ 

of  i^L"?-""^^''""  ""'^i^'^  *^*^  ^^  ^^'  i«  his  possesion  aHhetiml 
of  inspection  money  to  the  equivalent  of  $25,  or  that  the  head  of  his 

Eve.^f;m^r"'f-^"''^'?'°i?°''l^*h»t    *"i°"°t    to   his   accoun! 
every  female  alien  must  have  $15.  •^""i. 

.„.  J^*  ^'"•-  as  amended,   left  the  head  tax  at  $2,  and  the  readine 
'^n  eWnt'"^"^-   Great  opposition  to  the  Bill  came  from  [ht  for^- 
tign  element,  especially  the  Jews. 


The  Reading 
Teat  Pro  and 
Con 


96 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


has  caused  most  discussion  and  dissension  is  the 
illiteracy  test.  This  measure  has  been  pressed  upon 
Congress  by  the  Immigration  Restrictive  League 
ever  since  the  organization  of  that  Society  in 
1894.     Senator  Lodge  fathered  it  and  it  was 
passed  once  and  vetoed  by  President  Cleveland. 
President    Roosevelt    recommended    it    in    his 
message  of  December  3.  iqoi,  and  it  has  received 
the  endorsement  of  many  boards  of  charities  and 
many  leading  men.    The  strongest  argument  in 
favor  of  it  is  contained  in  a  resolution  passed 
by  thr  Associated  Charities  of  Boston,  although 
the  same  argument  applies  broadly  to  the  ques- 
tion of  restriction.     The  reading  test  was  dis- 
cussed by  speakers  at  the  National  Immigration 
Conference,  but  that  meeting  did  not  include  it  in 
the  resolutions  adopted.    The  Jewish  influence  is 
thrown   strongly   against   it,   since  the   Russian 
Jews  who  are  fleeing  from  oppression  are  among 
the  most  illiterate  of  the  present  immigration. 
This  is  due  to  lack  of  school  facilities,  however, 
for  the  Jews  naturally  take  to  education  and 
the  Jewish  children  in  the  public  schools  and 
high  schools  are  carrying  off  the  prizes.     "Not 
long  ago  I  saw  a  Jewish  girl  in  a  New  England 
academy  win  the  prize  in  constitutional  history 
over    the   heads    of   the    boys    and    girls    from 
American  families,  though  her  father  was  an  illit- 
erate Russian  Jew."* 


"Dr.  Goodchild. 


Legislation  and  Distribution  97 


That  is  not  bv  anv 


sual 


1 


means  an  i 
mony.     Another   fact   worthy   of 
many  of  those  who  have  worked  most  closely 
among  the  immigrants  do  not  favor  the  reading 
test.     Mr.  Brandenburg,  for  example,  suggests 
that  the  illiterates  often  prove  less  opinionated 
and  more  easily  assimilable  than  others  of  the 
same  race  who  can  read  and  write,  and   savs 
that  so  far  as  his  experience  goes  the  great  pro- 
portion of  the  rascals  and  undesirables  can  read 
and  write;  that  if  he  had  his  choice  between 
admitting  to  this  country  a   wealthy   educated 
Roman  nobleman  or  an  illiterate  Neapolitan  or 
Sicilian  laborer,  he  would  take  the  laborer  every 
time,  for  his  brain  and  brawn  and  heart  make  the 
better  foundation  on  which  to  build  the  institu- 
tions of  our  Republic.    Miss  Kate  Claghorn  and 
other  experienced  workers  agree  in  this  view, 
and  think  it  would  be  a  positive  misfortune  to 
make  ability   to   read   the   deciding  test.      Nor 
would  these  experts  favor  the  monev  test.    They 
believe  the  inspectors  should  have  more  leeway, 
as  judges  of  human  nature,  and  would  rather 
rely  on  their  judgment  as  to  the  character  of 
the  applicant  than  upon  any  arbitrary  tests.     So 
this  is  an  open  question  for  discussion,  with  good 
arguments  on  both  sides. 

There  are  three  interesting  propositio,  ur- 
ther.  The  first  is  a  measure  introduced  into  the 
House  by  Congressman  Adams  of  Petmsvlvania. 


In  Favor 
Illitentei 


of 


Three  Further 
Proposition* 


98 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Itinerant 
Boards 


Inspection 
Abroad 


This  would  restrict  by  law  the  total  number  of 
immigrants  from  any  given  country  in  any  one 
year  to  80,000.  This  would  decrease  the  soutli 
of  Europe  qu'  ^a,  and  might  increase  that  from 
northern  Europe.  It  would  at  any  rate  tend  to 
stop  the  million  a  year  rate. 

The  second  measure  is  proposed  by  Mr.  Bran- 
denburg, who  feels  sure  it  would  prove  the 
desired  remedy.  His  opinion  carries  a  good  deal 
of  weight.  His  proposal  is  to  "select  emi- 
grants befo.e  itinerant  boards  of  two,  three,  or 
more  native-born  Americans  who  speak  fluentlv 
and  understand  thoroughly  the  language  and 
dialects  of  the  people  who  come  before  them — 
these  boards  to  be  on  a  civil  service  basis,"  and 
to  sit  at  stated  times  in  the  central  cities  of  the 
countries  whence  aliens  come.^  This  he  believes 
to  be  "a  correct  solution  of  the  gigantic  prob- 
lem." It  would  keep  expense  down,  avoid 
opportunities  for  wholesale  corruption  of  Ameri- 
can officials  by  the  transporation  interests  and 
the  immigrants  themselves,  and  enable  the  exam- 
iners to  deny  passage  to  persons  desirous  of 
going  to  districts  already  over-populated  witli 
aliens. 

The  third  measure  is  in  line  with  the  second, 
but  instead  of  establishing  it:  u- rant  boards  o: 
examiners,  it  proposes  to  select  fifteen  or  twent\ 
ports  abroad  which  shall  be  made  exclusive  points 


'  Broughton  Brandenburg,  Imported  Americans.  302. 


Legislation  and  Distribution  99 

for  the  embarkation  of  emigrants  bound  for  the 
United  States.  :ir.  Ogg  states  the  plan  as 
follows : 

"Perhaps  an  adequate  list  would  be  Hamburg, 
lircmcn.  Stettin.  Rotterdam,  Antwerp,  London. 
Southampton.  Liverpool,  Havre.  St.  Xazaire. 
Marseilles,  Fiume,  Trieste.  Naples,  Genoa,  and 
Odessa.  At  each  of  these  ports  should  be  located 
an  immigrant  station,  similar,  in  a  general  way,  to 
the  immigrant  stations  at  our  larger  Atlantic 
ports  to-day,  and  it  should  be  made  the  duty 
of  the  resident  commissioners,  with  their  staffs 
of  inspectors  and  medical  attaches,  to  examine 
carefully  and  minutely  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  of  alien  nationality  who  applies  for  pas- 


sage to  the  United  States.    Successful  applicants 


should  be  given  a  certificate  which  alone  would 
enable  them  to  land  at  the  port  of  destination; 
those  unsuccessful  should  be  made  to  understand 
tlien  and  there  that,  in  their  present  state  at  least, 
tliere  is  no  chance  for  them  to  carry  out  their 
intention  of  migration,  and  that  the  best  thing 
for  them  to  do  is  to  return  to  their  hotnes/'i 

This  rad'ca!  plan  proposes  to  transfer  Ellis   0°  the  sifting 
Island,  in  effect,  to  a  score  of  pcnts  in  Europe.    '"^"''*'"' 
and   do  the   sifting  before  the      arting.     That 
would  be  sensible.    Then  only  the  desirable  por- 
tion would  get  here.     While  the  idea  is  radical, 
■t  is  the  outgrowth  of  years  of  experience  and  re- 

'  Outlook  f(_r  May  5,  1906. 


4    S 


100 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


What  this 
would  Ac- 
complish 


flection.  Mr.  Ojrjr  says,  and  initnigration  of?icials 
are  generally  agreed  upon  its  wisdom  and  practi- 
cability. This  system,  thoroughly  carried  out. 
would  not  only  stop  all  immigp-ation  that  is  ille- 
gal, but  as  much  as  possible  of  that  which,  though 
not  illegal,  is  questionable  and  undesirable.  More 
tests  applied  at  this  end  of  the  route  will  be  only 
partially  effective,  since  experience  proves  that  the 
present  tests  are  evaded.  The  means  of  reform., 
upon  which  all  other  immigration  reforms  must 
wait,  lies  in  this  shifting  of  the  main  work  qf 
supervision  and  inspection  to  Europe.  The  for- 
eign governments  would  v.elcome  the  plan,  or  at 
least  accept  it  if  proposed  by  this  country. 

This  system  would  serve  to  prevent  the 
tragedies  of  the  excluded ;  would  go  far  toward 
stopping  the  pernicious  activity  of  the  steamshi]. 
companies  and  their  enticing  emissaries;  would 
facilitate  the  detection  and  punishment  of  those 
breakers  and  evaders  of  the  law  who  are  now 
immime ;  and  it  would  make  possible  a  quite  dif- 
ferent and  more  searching  examination  of  intend- 
ing immigrants  than  is  possible  when  the  mass 
of  th-em  is  poured  out  at  Ellis  Island,  as  through 
the  small  end  of  a  funnel.  Rack  to  the  sources 
is  humane  and  wise.  The  expense  involved  could 
easily  be  met  by  the  increased  head  tax;  and  if 
not,  this  is  a  case  where  expense  in  money  is  not 
to  be  counted  in  comparison  with  the  country's 
welfare. 


Legislation  and  Distribution 


lOI 


These  are  interesting  propositions,  ^rr.  Wlidp-   int.rn.,ion.i 
ley  agrees  with  Mr.  Brandenburg  as  to  the  neccs-    "'«"'"'»" 
sity  of  dealing  with  the  migrant  before  he  reaches 
port,  either  of  embarkation  or  disembarkation, 
lie  says  our  laws  and  restrictions  are  severe,  and 
thoroughly  and   intelligently  enforced,   but   fall 
short  of  their  purpose  for  the  simple  reason  that 
there  is  little  or  no  control  over  the  source  of  sup- 
ply.    "It  is  an  effort  to  beat  back  the  tide  after 
it  has  rolled  upon  the  shore,  and  in  the  vast  mul- 
titude of  arrivals   many  gain   entrance   legally 
whom  the  country  would  be  better  off  without."* 
His  plan  is  to  have  an  international  regulation  of 
migration,  so  that  each  government  will  do  its 
part  to  check  the  present  conditions  and  regulate 
the  matter  at  its  starting  point. 

This  subject  of  legislation  is  confessedly  deli-  a  Higher 
cate  and  difficult.  The  diversity  of  opinion  is  ^*"'""'*' 
confusing.  Yet  we  cannot  escape  the  conviction 
that  the  present  immigration  is  altogether  too 
vast  for  the  good  of  the  country.  Suspension  is 
not  to  be  seriously  considered,  but  surelv  it  could 
'lo  no  harm  to  make  the  laws  more  stringent,  to 
insist  upon  a  higher  physical  standard,  to  debar 
'Icgenerates,  and  to  stop  at  any  cost  the  solicita- 
tion and  "assisted"  immigration  abuses  which 
have  caused  so  i>nich  suffering  to  the  deceived 
and  excluded  victims  of  greed. 

'  J.  D.  Whelplry,  Th.  Problem  o;  tlu,  ImmxRrant.  13. 


I02 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Th«  Crucial 
Point 


An  Expert 
Opinion 


///.     The  Problem   of  Distribution 

Xo  phase  of  the  immigration  question  i- 
rcceivinjj  more  attention  at  present  than  that  of 
distribution.  There  is  a  common  opinion  that  if 
the  proper  (Hstribution  could  be  made,  the  chief 
evils  of  the  tremendous  influx  would  disappear. 
We  are  told  that  it  is  the  consfestion  of  aliens  in 
already  crowded  centers  of  population  that 
creates  the  menace  to  civilization ;  that  there  i> 
land  enough  to  be  cultivated  ;  and  that  vast  enter- 
prises are  under  way  calling  for  the  unskilled 
labor  that  is  coming  in.  But  the  puzzling  prob- 
lem is  how  to  get  the  immigrants  where  they  ari 
wanted  and  needed,  and  can  be  of  value.  On 
this  point.  Mr.  Max  Mitchell.  Superintendent  of 
the  Federation  of  Jewish  Charities,  says : 

"The  problem  is  that  of  overcrowding.  Wr 
must  not  close  our  ports  to  the  people  of  tlu' 
Old  World  who  seek  a  haven  and  a  home  in  the 
land  of  liberty  and  plenty,  but  we  must  see  to  it 
that  when  they  arrive  here  they  are  directed  out 
of  the  city  and  into  the  country  places  wherv 
ordinary  human  industry  is  rewarded  abundantl>. 
The  inclination  of  the  immigrants  themselves  to 
stick  so  Closely  to  the  great  centers  of  population 
must  be  overcome.  If  the  great  crowds  of  for- 
eigners that  inundate  these  shores  every  year  couM 
be  distributed  in  a  sensible  and  logical  wa\  over 
all  the  vast  uncultivated  territory  in  which  this 


X 


Legislation  and  Distribution  103 

nation  is  so  rich,  we  should  never  hear  any  com- 
plaint of  too  much  immigration.  No  better 
farmers  can  be  found  anywhere  than  among  the 
i'oreign  peoples  who  seek  America." 

Very  likely,  but  the  trouble  is.  they  do  not  want  ctuution 
to  i  rm  and  they  are  free  to  prefer  the  squalor  "•«'*•*'•'* 
of  the  ^lums  to  the  green  of  the  fields.     Xor  is 
there  much  hope  that  this  singular  but  strong 
inchnation  can  be  overcome  save  by  government 
regulation,  which  shall  settle  the  matter  of  loca- 
tion for  those  who  have  no  specific  destination 
or  occupation.    It  is  probable  that  on  this  point 
some  reasonable  legislation  could  be  secured; 
especially  if  the  various  distribution  societies  and 
railroad  companies  should  fail  in  their  efforts  to 
induce  the  aliens  to  go  where  they  are  needed. 
Commission.r-General  Sargent  has  dealt  plainly 
with  this  matter  in  his  Reports  for  the  last  three 
years,  and  rightly  estimates  its  importance.    He 
says  :i 

"In  my  judgment  th»    -.mallest  part  of  the  dutv   Di.tribution 
to  be  discharged  i.i  successfullv  handling  aliens'    °^  ''"'"* 
with  a  view  to  the  protection  of  the  people  and    ""'°'""" 
the  institutions  of  this  country,  is  that  part  now 
provided   for  ty  law.     Its   importance,  though 
undeniable,  is  relatively  of  secondary  motnent.  It 
cannot  compare  in  practical  value  with,  nor  can 
it  take  the  place  of,  measures  to  secure  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  many  thousands  who  come  in 

'.4nni«a/  Report  for  IQ03.  p.  60. 


104 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Information 

Agenciet 

Proposed 


A  OrowinK 
BvU 


ignorance  of  the  industrial  needs  and  opportuni- 
ties of  this  country,  and  colonize  alien  communi- 
ties in  our  great  cities." 

Suitable  legislation  is  strongly  urged  to  estab- 
lish agencies  through  which,  either  with  or  with- 
out the  cooperation  of  the  states,  aliens  shall  be 
made  acquainted  with  the  resources  of  the  coun- 
try at  large,  and  the  industrial  needs  of  the 
various  sections,  in  both  skilled  and  unskilled 
labor,  the  cost  of  living,  the  wages  paid,  the 
price  and  capabilities  of  the  land,  the  character 
of  the  climates,  the  duration  of  the  seasons — 
in  short,  all  that  information  furnished  by  some 
of  the  great  railway  lines  through  whose  efforts 
the  territory  tributary  thereto  has  been  trans- 
formed from  a  wilderness  within  a  few  years  to 
the  abiding  place  of  a  happy  and  prosperous 
population. 

"Again  the  importance  of  undertaking  to  dis- 
tribute aliens  now  congregating  in  our  large 
cities  to  those  parts  of  the  United  States  where 
they  can  secure  employment  without  displacing 
others  by  working  for  a  less  wage,  and  where 
the  conditions  of  existence  do  not  tend  to  the 
fostering  of  disease,  depravity,  and  resistance  to 
the  social  and  political  security  of  the  countr\. 
is  urged.  The  Bureau  is  convinced  that  no  fea- 
ture of  the  immigration  question  so  insistently 
demands  public  attention  and  effective  action. 
The  evil  to  be  removed  is  one  that  is  steadily  anl 


■% 


Legislation  and  Distribut 


ion 


lo: 


rapidly   on  the 


and 


Chart  of 
Distribution 


-.     -  increase,   and   its   remova.    un 

strike  at  the  roots  of  fraudulent  elections,  pov- 
erty, disease,  and  crime  in  our  large  cities,  and 
on  the  other  hand  largely  supplv  that  increasing 
demand  for  labor  to  develop  the  natural  resources 
of  our  country.  Too  much  encouragement  can- 
not be  given  to  the  reported  efforts  of" certain  rail- 
way companies  to  divert  a  portion  of  the  tide 
of  immigration  to  the  Southern  states.  It  is 
impossible,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Bureau,  to  over- 
estimate the  importance  of  this  subject  as  bearing 
upon  the  effect  of  immigration  on  the  future  wel- 
fare of  this  country."' 

What  are  the  facts  concerning  the  present  loca- 
tion and  distribution  of  immigrants?  The 
answer  involves  a  most  interesting  study.  Tak- 
ing the  immigration  of  1905,  the  charts  on  the 
next  page  illustrates  the  distribution  by  states. 
The  enormous  proportion  going  to  New  York.    wher.  the 

Pennsylvania,   and   the    North   Atlantic   section    " "*' 

shows  prominently.  They  got  ninetv  per  cci.t. 
of  the  whole,  while  the  South  received  but  four 
per  cent,  of  the  total,  and  only  one  per  cent,  ul 
that  went  to  the  South  Central  States.  The 
Great  West  had  only  four  per  cent,  as  against 
five  the  year  preceding ;  showing  conclusively  how 
few  of  the  million  went  where  it  would  have  been 
far  better  for  the  entire  million  to  have  gone.  It 
is  safe  to  say  that  there  was  little  or  no  legiti- 

^  Annual  Report  jOT  1905.  p.  58.     Mdem,  opposite  r.  34. 


Masse*  Stay 


io6 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Proportion  or   In/in/iigration  ano    number  of 
Immigrants  going  to  each  state   during 

THE    FISCAL    YEAR    ENDING    JuNE    30.   1903 


TOTAL  1.026.499 


•V  ^Cn#mSS*VM   OTTKC     BVQEAV    OF    l*W>\lOPIATIOri 


Legislation  and  Distribution  107 

mate  demand  in  Xew  York,  Pennsylvania,  or 
New  England  for  any  of  them.  At  the  same 
tfme,  there  is  some  encouragement  in  the  fact 
that  the  distribution  of  the  past  fourteen  years 
shows  that  smaller  proportions  are  now  remain- 
ing in  the  states  in  which  are  located  the  princi- 
pal ports  of  entry.  For  example,  the  percentage 
of  Xew  York  State  has  steadily  decreased  from 
fort\-two  per  cent,  in  1892  to  thirty  per  cent,  in 
1905.  Pennsylvania,  West  \'irginia,  and  Ohio 
have  gained  proportionately. 

A  series  of  diagrams  which  show  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  ^'oreign-born  living  in  the  United 
States  in  1900,  was  prepared  by  Mr.  F.  W. 
Hewes,  for  the  World's  Work,  and  published  in 
October,  1903.  By  the  courtesy  of  Doubleday, 
Page  and  Company,  publishers,  they  are  repro- 
duced. They  show  at  a  glance  where  the  immi- 
grants were  in  1900,  and  the  totals  by  race  or 
nationality.  By  adding  to  these  totals  the  remark- 
able figures  of  thc^  last  five  years— and  this  would 
be  necessary  in  order  to  appreciate  the  great  in- 
crease in  the  Italian  and  Slavic  totals— an  idea 
of  the  present  situation  may  be  obtained,  for 
as  to  locality  the  percentages  have  not  materially 
changed. 

The  further  point  to  be  considered  as  to  dis- 
tribution is  the  effort  now  being  made  to  accom- 
plish desired  results.  In  lieu  of  legislation  or 
government  provision,  these  are    (i)    Societies 


Diagrams  to 
be  Studied 


Protective 
Societies 


io8 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Legislation  and  Distribution 


I  a; 


f 


"i 


no 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Italian  Society 


A  Real 
Service 


orjranized  by  individuals,  and  (2)  Railway  com- 
panies. The  Bureau  of  Information*  proposed 
by  the  bill  now  in  Congress  would,  if  established, 
closely  cooperate  with  the  state  agencies  and  all 
other  bodies  promoting  distribution. 

One  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  of  these 
organizations,  which  will  serve  as  an  illustration, 
is  the  Society  for  Italian  Immigrants,  with  head- 
quarters in  Xew  York,  near  the  Battery.  The 
Society  thus  states  its  purpose  and  methods : 

"About  200.000  Italian  immigrants  are  now 
landing  at  this  port  during  every  twelve  months. 
These  immigrants  are  almost  entirely  poor  peas- 
ants who  cannot  speak  our  language.  In  order 
that  these  people  may  get  a  fair  start  in  this  new 
and,  to  them,  strange  country,  and  that  they 
may  become  f:.miliar  as  soon  as  possible  with  our 
laws,  habits,  and  customs,  help  and  instruction  of 
various  kinds  must  be  given  them.  To  furnish 
these  either  freely  or  at  the  lowest  possible  cost, 
is  the  object  of  The  Society  for  Italian  Immi- 
grants. 

"Accordingly,  in  its  work  the  Societv  employs 
agents  to  look  after  the  needs  of  the  immi- 
grants at  Ellis  Island :  it  runs  an  escort  ser\-ice, 
by  which  competent  persons  are   fu;..":hed.  at 

oo'^'l'^  ^"""^^^  ^^''"  ""^l'"'^  ^"d  furnish  to  all  incomins  aliens  data 
as  to  the  resources,  products,  and  manufactures  of  each  state  te^r' 
l'^t^/7^  '^■^'^^  °*  *^1  ^"'''■'1  States:  the  pnces  of  land  and  cha^" 
ment  fn'thi'  skilled  '1* r^'  .^'^V^''''  °PP"rtunities  of  einpho^-: 
r^tf  ^»- r  •  ^'^'  '«d  and  unskilled  occupat  ons  rates  of  waire's 
cost  oMiymg,  and  all  ether  information  that  in  the  judgment"  fihe 
C.mm.ss.oner -General  might  tend  to  enli.;hten  the  aHens  2s  io  th^ 
inducements  to  settlement  in  the  various  sections     ^"^"^  ^=' *^  ""^ 


Legislation  and  Distribution 


III 


i 


nominal  cost,  to  take  immigrants  to  their  destina- 
tion ;  it  conducts  an  employment  agency  ;  it  main- 
tains an  information  bureau;  it  cooperates  with 
the  United  States  authorities  to  enforce  the 
Immigration  Laws ;  it  manages  labor  camps  for 
contractors ;  it  wages  war  on  all  persons  engaged 
in  swindling  immigrants ;  it  is  engaged  in  break- 
ing up  the  padrone  system  in  all  its  forms ;  and 
lastly  and  generally,  it  does  all  it  can  to  help 
immigrants,  so  that  as  soon  as  possible  they  may 
become  self-supporting  and  self-respecting  citi- 
zens, a  benefit  and  not  a  detriment  to  this 
country." 

The  Society  is  supported  by  voluntary  contri-  Grant,  from 
butions,  and  by  grants  to  the  amount  of  about 
$7,000  a  year  from  the  Italian  government. 
The  Society  has  met  with  the  approval  of  the 
police  department  of  the  city,  the  United  States 
authorities  at  Ellis  Island,  and  the  Italian  Royal 
Department  of  Emigration,  and  of  all  individuals 
who  have  made  themselves  familiar  with  what  it 
is  doing.  There  is  also  a  Boston  Italian  Society, 
organized  in  1902,  to  protect  newcomers  from 
sharpers,  thieves,  and  fraudulent  persons;  also 
from  the  frauds  of  bankers  and  padroni.  The 
Italian  government  has  given  $1,000  a  year  to 
this  Society. 

A  similar  work  is  done  by  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  and  the  Removal  Bureau  established 
by  the  Jews  in  Xew  York  in  1901.    Through  this 


Italian  Gov- 
ernmant 


Hebrew  and 

Other 

Societies 


±IJ 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Chief 
Obstacle 


agency  in  the  past  three  years  over  10,000  of  the 
Russian  or  Roumanian  Jews  have  been  kept  from 
increasing  the  overcrowded  population  of  the 
ghetto  and  swelling  the  sum  of  sweatshop  misery. 
While  the  number  distributed  is  small  compared 
with  the  steady  inflow  (5,525  sent  out  in  1903. 
while  43,000  settled  in  New  York),  the  work 
bids  fair  to  make  itself  felt,  and  shows  an  appre- 
ciation by  the  Jews  already  here  of  the  situation 
and  the  necessity  of  changing  it,  for  the  sake 
both  of  the  immigrants  and  the  country.    Indus- 
trial removal  is  now  known  wherever  Jews  are 
found,  and  all  that  is  possible  is  being  done  to 
stimulate  artificial  distribution  as  the  remedy  for 
the  worst  evils  of  unassimilated  and  congested 
immigration.^     There  are  German  and  Scandi- 
navian societies,  benevolent  and  protective,  which 
aid  in  distribution. 

The  principal  difficulty  with  the  distribution 
scheme,  so  far  as  most  of  the  present-day  immi- 
grants are  concerned,  is  that  with  the  exception 
of  the  Italians  they  are  not  fitted  for  agriculture, 
while  it  is  the  farms  that  most  need  workers. 
Another  difficultys  is  that  the  authorities  of  the 
various  states  object  to  receiving  shipments  of 
immigrants  from  the  city  tenement  districts, 
regarding  them  as  decidedly  undesirable  addi- 
tions  to   the   population.      The    United    States 


•  Tlu  Russian  Jew  in  the  United  Stales.  370 
»  Prescott  F.  Hall,  Immigration,  303. 


Legislation  and  Distribution 


113 


Immigration  Investigating  Commission  asked  the 
governors  of  the  different  states  what  nationali- 
ties of  immigrants  they  desired,  and  in  only  two 
cases  was  any  desire  expressed  for  Slavs.  Utins 
Jews,  or  Asiatics,  and  these  two  related  to  Italian 
farmers  with  money,  intending  to  become  perma- 
nent settlers.     The  officials  protest  against  the 
shipment   of  southern   and   eastern   Europeans 
from  the  citv  slums  into  the  states.    Care  must 
oe  taken,  too.  that  the  immigrants  do  not  settle 
in  country  colonies,  which  would  render  them 
as  difficult  of  Americanization  almost  as  though 
they  were  colonized  in  the  city. 

The  New  South  is  already  gi'ving  object  lessons  wh.t  th. 
to  the  country  at  large  in  the  successful  attrac-   *«»•»»' «•  »>»'««« 
tion  and  utilization  of  the  alien  influx.    The  Four 
States  Immigration  League,  composed  of  repre- 
sentatives of  business  organizations  in  Alabama 
Louisiana,  Mississippi,  and  Texas,  was  organized 
in  1903  to  secure  desirable  immigrants  for  those 
states.     "It  was  keenly  realized,"  observed  the 
Chattanooga  Times,  "that  of  the  enormous  inflow 
from  the  old  country,  the  number  seeking  homes 
in  the  South  was  ridiculously  small  and  out  of  all 
proportion  to  the  importance  of  the  country  and 
the  inducements  our  productive  fields  hold  out 
to  home  seekers."    An  Immigration  Bureau  has 
been  established  in  Chattanooga,  and  South  Caro- 
lina   and    other    states    have    organized    active 
departments    of    agnculture    and    immigration 


114 


Aliens  or  Americans;' 


Legislation  and  Distributi 


lOtl 


II 


116 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


N«w  Ztatand 
PUn 


The  leading  railway  lines  promise  active  cooper- 
ation, as  their  interests  lie  positively  in  this  direc- 
tion. Some,  indeed,  have  activel}  enjjaj^'ed  in  the 
work  of  securing  distribution. 

The  suggestion  is  a  good  one  that  we  might 
study  with  profit,  in  this  connection,  the  methods 
of  Xcw  Zealand.'  There  the  established  Depart- 
ment of  LalM)r  has  regarded  as  "its  vital  duty  the 
practical  task  of  finding  where  labor  was  wanted 
and  depositing  there  the  labor  running  elsewhere 
to  waste."  To  this  end  a  widely  extended  system 
of  agencies  is  maintained  for  bringing  workers 
and  work  together,  the  unemployed  are  scattered 
through  the  colony,  and  charity  is  refused.  The 
experience  there  shows  that  city  people  and  men 
of  trades  have  been  successful  as  farmers  and 
farm  workers.  Mr.  Lord  says:  "It  may  be  a 
novel  function  of  government  to  undertake  the 
distributing  of  labor,  but  it  is  none  the  less  more 
ratii^nal  than  an  edict  of  exclusion  would  be,  or 
the  tolerance  of  congestion  and  slums  now  is." 

One  thing  that  government  can  do  is  to  make 
sure  that  intending  immigrants  are  fully  in- 
formed, in  their  own  countries,  before  they  start, 
concerning  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  the 
conditions  of  the  various  sections,  the  advantages 
and  drawbacks,  the  demand  for  labor  and  of 
what  kind.  An  official  bureau  of  correspondence 
and   information   would  help  check  undesirable 

'  The  Italian  in  America,  177  flf. 


Ufrislatif.n  and  Distrilmti-.u 


"7 


immigrants  from  cominRf.  and  .listril.utc  dcsiral,Ie 
ones  when  they  do  conic. 

While  the  question  of  distribution  has  onlv  Look.„,oB 
recently  been  taken  up  in  earnest,  its  importance  •«-•''"'* 
js  now  realized,  and  there  is  everv  reason  to 
behcve  that  ,t  will  rccive  henceforth  lar^e  atten- 
tion and  that  wise  measures  will  be  vijrorouslv 
pushed  Remedied  congestion  will  mean  in- 
creased assimilation  and  decreased  danger  As 
ue  review  the  situation,  while  there  is  much'in 
«t  that  requires  serious  consideration  and  wise 
action  w-e  agree  heartily  with  these  words  of 
Dr.  Charles  L.  Thompson: 

"There  is  no  need  of  becoming  pessimistic    NotB.r.but 
.\l3ove  all  we  should  not  go  back  on  the  history   °""" 
of  our  country.  We  have  grown  great  bv  assimi- 
lation.   Let  us  have  a  dignified  confidence  in  the 
power  of  our  institutions  and  of  our  Christianity 
to  continue  che  process  which  has  developed  the 
>trength  of  the  Republic.    If  we  are  true  to  our 
principles  we  will  be  equal  to  anv  strain  that  mav 
be  put  upon  them.    Only  let  us  see  to  it  that  ou'r 
pnnciples-both  civic  and  religious-are  at  work 
>n  full  vigor  on  the  questions  which  the  floodtido 
of  immigration   raises.     What  we  need   is   not 
more  bars  to  keep  foreigners  out  but  more  labor- 
ers to  work  with  them  and  teach  them  how  to 
gather  the  harvest  of  American  and  Christian 
iioertv.  '■ 

'  •'  The  Problem  of  Immigration."  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication. 


ii8 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


QUESTIONS  FOR  CHAPTER  III 

Aim:  To    Study   the   PRom.EMs   of   Lecislation   am> 
Distribution   REtiARinxG  Aliens 


I. 


The  Opinious  of  Capable  Observers  Regar  i-tg  Li-^- 
islatioH. 

Give   the   names   and   opinions   of   s  inr,    w!  . 
favor  restriction  of  immigration.    Of  so..k  .' v 
are  i/pposed.    With  which  do  you  agree  ? 
The  Immigration  Conference  of  1905 :     What 
was  it?     What  did  it  recommend? 
As   to   free   admission:    What  are   the   ^ight^ 
of  the  government?    Of  the  individual? 
What  does  President  Rooseveh  recommend? 


II. 


III. 


I. 


2. 


3- 


Proposed  Legislation. 

5.  What  abuses  specially  need  to  be  corrected? 

6.  Name   the    chief  provisions   of   the   "Gardner 
Bill,"  before  Congress  in  1906. 

7.*  Give  reasons  for  and  against  a  reading  test. 
Would  }-ou  have  voted  for  it  or  against? 

8.  Describe  and  give  your  opinion  of  other  pro- 
posed methods  of  restricting  immigration. 

9.  Would  it  be  possible  to  sift  immigrants  before 
they  leave  Europe? 


Distribution. 

10.  How  much  can  be  done  toward  a  wider  dis- 
tribution of  the  stream  of  immigrants? 

11.  Where  do  the  larger  numbers  now  settle?    In 
what  cities?     What  states? 

12.  What  Societies  are  helping  them  to  find  better 
locations  ? 

13.  What  special  efforts  are  being  made  by  some 
Southern  states? 

14.  How  does   New  Zealand  deal  with  this  ques 
tion?    Can  we  copy  that  plan? 


DN     AMI 
1.1  u   ■.'  V  ■    I 

c? 

Whit 

:   right- 
lend  ? 


ctcd  ? 
Jardiur 

ig  teA. 
t? 

er  pro- 
on. 
before 


III 


IV, 


er  dis- 


le?    In 


Legislation  and  Distribution  119 

15*  What  spirit  is  needed  in  dealing  with  the 
whole  problem? 

16.  Can  you  tell  of  any  special  endeavors  to  bring 
about  better  control  or  direction  of  immigra- 
tion ? 

.References    for    Advanced    Study.— Chapter    III 
I.    further  Study  of  Opinions  of  United  States  Immi- 
gration  Officials. 

See  Commissioner-General's  Annual  Report,  fur- 
nished free  from  Washington  upon  application  to 
the  "Commissioner  of  Immigration."  Report  of 
1902,  pp.  59,  60.  Report  of  1904.  pp.  37-47,  123-13(1 
Report  of  1904,  pp.  61-70.  Report  of  1905.  pp.  58. 
75-78. 

II.     Provisions  and  Pate  of  Legislation   of  1906  Pro- 
posed in  Congress. 

Text  of  "Gardner  Bill"  and  Journal  of  the  House 
for  June  25,  1906,  can  be  secured  by  writing  to 
Washington. 

Evils  of  Undistributed  Immigration. 
Warne:  The  Slav  Invasion,  IV,  V. 
Hunter:   Poverty,  VI. 
Lord,  et  al:  The  Italian  in  America.  IV,  X. 

Efforts  to  Secure  Wider  Distribution  of  Immi- 
grants. 

Hall:    Immigration,   XIII. 

Lord,  et  al:  The  Italian  in  America,  VII,  IX. 


:  better 


r  some 


!  ques- 


To  knoiv  anything  about  the  actual 
character  of  recent  and  present  immigra- 
tion, we  must  distinguish  the  many  and 
very  diverse  elements  of  which  it  is 
composed.—Samue)  McLanahan. 


IV 
THE  NEW  IMMIGRATION 


lai 


The  world  never  before  saw  anything  comparable  to 
this  tremendous  movement  of  people  in  so  short  a  space 
of  time.  The  population  Europe  has  lost  in  a  hundred 
years  is  greater  than  the  total  number  of  inhabitants 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  in  i860,  and  only  a  little 
less  than  that  of  the  United  States  in  the  same  year. 
It  is  equal  to  three  fifths  of  the  total  population  of 
Europe  in  the  time  of  Augustus  Qesar.  If  the  ships 
carried  five  hundred  passengers  on  the  average,  about 
fifty  thousand  trips  have  been  made  in  the  transfer. 

Emphatically  too  many  people  are  now  coming  over 
here;  too  many  of  an  undesirable  sort.     In   1902  over 
seven  tenths  were  from  races  who  do  not  rapidly  assimi- 
late with  the  customs  and  institutions  of  this  country 
—Pre.cott  F.  Hall. 

There  are  two  classes  who  would  pass  upon  the  immi- 
gration question.  One  says,  "Close  the  doors  and  let  in 
nobody ;"  and  the  other  says,  "Open  wide  the  doors  and 
let  in  everybody."  I  am  in  sympathy  with  neither  of 
these  classes.  There  is  a  happy  middle  path— a  path 
of  discernment  and  iudgmcnt— Commissioner  Robert 
IVatchorn  of  New  York. 

Just  as  a  body  cannot  with  safety  accept  nourishment 
any  faster  than  it  is  capable  of  assimilating  it,  so  a 
state  cannot  accept  an  excessive  influx  of  people  without 
serious  injury.—//.  //.  Boyesen. 

It  seems  to  me  our  only  concern  about  immigration 
should  be  as  to  its  character.  We  do  not  want  Europe's 
criminals  or  paupers.  The  time  to  make  selection  is  in 
Europe,  prior  to  embarkation.— C/«i7fd  States  Senator 
Hansbrough. 


122 


IV 

THE  XEW  ni.MIGRATIOX 
/.     Xc:,'  '  co/^/cs  Olid  Xc7c  Problems 
go  Rreat  has  been  the  chan.tje  in  tlie  racial  char-   Change  of 

acter  of  immigration  within  the  last  ten  years    '*"'''"  '^*'P' 
that  the  term  "new  imminrration"  has  bcen'iise.l 
to  distincruish  the  present  prevailing  tvpe  from 
tliat  of  former  years.    V>y  -'new  immi,£rrati(Mi"  we 
mean  broadly  all   the  aliens   from   southeastern 
Juirope— the    Italians,    Hunprarians.    Slavs.    He- 
brews.   Creeks,    and    Syrians— as    distinguished 
from  the  northwestern  Europeans— the  English 
Scotch,    Welsh.    Irish.    Erench.    Germans,    and 
Scandinavian  .    The  ethnic  uithorities  at  Wash- 
ington make  the  foUowin-  lacial  division,  which 
IS  used  in  the  official  reports : 

"Xmety-f.ve  per  cent,  of  the  imminfration  to  this    Race 
country  comes  from  Europe.    Most  of  these  dif-    "'"  "" 
fcrent  races  or  peoples,  or  more  projxirlv  sub- 
divisions of  race,  coming:  from  Europe  have  been 
grouped  into  four  grand  divisions,  as  follows : 

^  "Teutonic  division,   from  nortiicrn   Kurope :  German 
^c.indniavian.   English,   Dutch.   1-lemisli.  and  Finnish. 

"Iberic  division,  from  southern  Europe:  South  Italian 
Greek.  Portuguese,  and  Spanish:  also  Syrian  from' 
I  urkey  in  Asia. 

"Celtic  division,  from  western  Europe :  Irish,  Welsh 
Scotch,  French,  and  North  Italian. 

123 


Classification 


124 


Aliens  or  Americans.-' 


The  New 
ImmiKration 


Reasons  for 

Adverse 

Opinion 


"Slavic  (li vision,  fmni  castt-ni  Kun.pc:  Bohemian. 
Moravian.  Bulgarian.  Servian.  Montenegrin.  Croatian. 
Slovenian,  Dalmatian.  Hosnian,  iierzegovinian.  Hebrew. 
Lithuania,),  Polish,  r^oumanian,  r<ussian,  Ruthenian,  and 
Slovak. 

"1  he  Mongf.Iic  division  has  also  been  added,  to  in- 
clude Chinese.  Japanese,  Korean,  East  Indian.  Pacific 
Islander,  and  Filipino. 

"Under  'all  others'  have  been  included  Magyar,  Turk- 
ish, Armenian,  African  (black),  and  subdivisions  native 
to  the  Western  Hemisphere." 

This  new  immigration  has  been  commonly 
regarded  as  either  decidedly  undesirable  or  at 
least  distinctly  less  desirable  than  the  Teutonic 
and  Celtic,  which  for  so  many  years  practically 
had  the  field  of  America  to  itself.  It  has  not  been 
uncommon  to  group  the  Italians  and  Slavs,  and 
denominate  them  as  the  "offscouring  and  refuse 
of  Europe,"  now  dumped  into  America,  which  is 
described  as  a  sort  of  world  "garbage  bin." 
Extremists  have  drawn  in  gloomy  colors  the 
effects  of  this  inrush  of  the  worst  and  most 
illiterate  and  unassimilable  elements  of  the  Old 
World.  A  distinct  prejudice  has  undoubtedly 
been  created  against  these  later  comers. 

There  is  unquestionably  some  ground  for  the 
feeling  that  the  new  immigration  is  in  manv 
respects  less  desirable  than  the  older  type.  These 
peoples  come  out  of  conditions  of  oppression  and 
depression,  illiteracy  and  poverty.  Far  more 
important  than  this,  they  have  had  no  contact 


The  New 


126 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Older 
Type  of 
Immigration 


with  Anjjlo-Saxon  ideas  or  Sfovcrnment.  They 
are  consequently  ahiiost  wholly  ignorant  of 
American  ideals  and  standards.  There  is  a  vast 
difference  between  the  common  ideas  of  these 
immigrants  and  thf)se  from  the  more  enlitjhtened 
and  propfrcssive  northern  nations.  So  there  is 
in  the  type  of  character  and  the  customs  and 
manners. 

We   are    sufficiently    familiar    with    the   older 
type,    and    do    not    need    here    to    dwell    upon 
n.     We  know  how  large  a  part  has  been  plavcd 
in  the  development  of  nur  national  material  enter- 
prises by  the  Germans,  the  English  and  Irisii. 
the   Scotch   and   Welsh,  the  Swedes  and   Nor- 
wegians.    Millions  of  them  are  among  the  loyal 
Americans  of  to-day.    The  Irish  originally  came 
to    perform    the    unskilled    labor    of    America. 
Their  women  made  tlie  domestics,  and  many  of 
them  still  rule  the  American  kitchen.     Rut  the 
Irish  men  have  moved  up.  into  bosses  and  con- 
tract':, s.  into  the  stores  and  trades  and  profes- 
sions, and  especially  into  politics,  until  thev  prac- 
tically run  the  cities  and  have  a  lion's  share  of  the 
governmental    positions.      The    Germans    have 
always  been  among  the  best  of  our  immigrant 
population  in  intelligence,  thrift,  and  other  quali- 
ties that  make  the  German  nation  strong  and 
stable.    They  have  Germanized  us  more  than  we 
have   Americanized   them.     The   Scandinavians 
have  with  excellent  judgment  distributed  them- 


The  Xevv  Iniinigration  127 

selves  and  jjonc  largely  into  agriculture.  All 
these  north  of  Europe  peoples  bel.nig  to  a  com- 
mon inheritance  of  principles  and  ideas,  and  all 
have  found  it  natural  to  assimilate  into  American 
life.  America  owes  a  large  debt  to  them,  as  they 
do  to  the  land  that  has  become  their  own  b'v 
adoption. 

r.ut  what  can  he  said  about  this  new  immigra-   Nece..ityof 
tion  ?     First  let  us  see  how  great  the  change  in   f^"""""- 
racial  character  has  been,  and  then  difterentiate 
these  new  races.    It  will  not  do  to  brand  anv  race 
as  a  whole.     Discrimination  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary if  we  are  to  deal  with  this  subject  practically 
and   justly.      There    are    Italians    and    Italia...',, 
Slavs  and  Slavs,  just  as  there  are  all  sorts  of 
Irish.  Germans,  and  Americans.     Xo  race  has  a 
monopoly  of  either  virtue  or  vice.     This  table 
will  help  us  to  ditYerentiatc  the  millions  of  immi- 
grants since  1820  as  to  race: 

Netherlands 140.103        Germany 5  1S7  0T' 

'^;'""'-;'"''v 220.199  t:.m  and  Irebml Tmm 

IVnnmrk.  .Norway,  and  R,,„i,, '    •  •  [■-^.^*^^ 

,, '  "™'^" 1,730.722        O.tintri.'s  m.t  si«Tifi..,i .  .        2  130  7.")ti 

••''>■ 2.000,2.-.2        China ■2ssm 

To  appreciate  the  significance  of  these  figures,    a  Remark.-»b!.. 
it  must  be  remembered  that  while  the  totals  froui   ^"'^""^ 
the  United  Kingdom  and  Germany  amount  to 
nearly  twelve  and  a  half  millions,  or  considerably 
more  than  one  half  of  the  entire  immigration 
down  to  1905,  the  profwrtions  have  been  rapidly 


128 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Inferior 
Checks  the 
Su{'erior 


clianpinp.     The   immigration    from   the    United 
Kingdom,  for  example,  reached  its  highest  point 
in   185 1,  when  the  total  was  272.740,  predomi- 
nantly from  Ireland.     The  German  immigration 
reached  high  mark  in  1887,  the  total  being  250,- 
630.    On  the  other  hand,  the  immigration  from 
Italy  did  not  reich  10,000  until  1880.  and  passed 
the  100,000  mark  first  in  1900.    In  the  past  five 
years  nearly  a  million  Italians — or  one  half  of 
the  entire  Italian  immigration — have  entered  the 
country,  and  the  number  in    1906  promises  to 
exceed  a  quarter  of  a  million  more.    The  highest 
mark  was  233.546  in  1903 ;  but  even  this  did  not 
equal  the  birth-rate  in  Italy.     In  Hungary  and 
Russia,  also,  the  birth-rate  is  greater  than  the 
immense  drain  of  immigration,  so  that  this  stream 
will  cc  ntinue  to  flow  and  increase,  unkss  some 
check  is  put  upon  it,  or  some  legislative  dam 
built.    The  im.migration  from  Russia,  consisting 
chiefly  of  Jews,  did  not  become  appreciable  until 
1887,  when  it  reach    '  ^0,766.    It  passed  100,000 
in  1902;  and  from  UjOu  to  1905  the  total  arrivals 
were  748.522,  or  just  about  one  half  the  entire 
number  in  this  country.    The  same  is  true  of  the 
Hungarian  and   Slav  immigration.     Its  promi- 
nence has  come  since  1890. 

The  point  of  importance  to  be  considered 
is  that  as  the  immigration  from  southeastern 
Europe  has  increased,  that  from  northwestern 
Europe  has   decreased.     In    1869  not  one  per 


to 


t^ 


i-  -s 

M 


The  \c\v  Immigration  u,, 

cent,  of  the  total  immigration  came  from  \ns- 
tna-Hungary.  Italy.  Poland,  and  Russia,  while 
m  1902  the  percentage  was  over  seventv.  In 
1869  nearly  three  quarters  of  the  total  immigra- 
tion came  from  the  Tnited  Kingdom.  France. 
Germany,  and  Scandinavia ;  in  i<j02  onlv  one  fifth 
was  from  those  countries.  The  proportion  has 
held  nearly  the  same  since. 

The  change  is  indicated  most  plainly  in  this 
table,  which  compares  the  total  immigration  of 
certain  nationalities  for  rhe  period  1821  to  u/02 
with  that  for  the  year  'Q03: 

1821  to  1902  iyo3 

tointry                                     Sumhtr       Percent  Xumtw      Percent 

Au»tria-Hungary I  11R  cwu            at  vw.  -<..       '  •"^'^"' 

En«Und,  W.V     ■j'iS'SS^          ,5?  ^0<'         24*0 

'!enn.ny.,    .       (AS'2^         II*  20,219           30 

W.y,    SwHen 'M.'  «/        230.022         20  9 

Ri«ia.  Poland UOe'aSi  w         ,^?vSS  "-^ 

J.l«>,dB^  5.4         13f>,093         15  » 

This  table  shows  not  only  the  nations  which 
have  added  chiefly  to  our  population  in  the  past 
and  which  are  adding  to-dav,  but  how  the  per- 
centage of  each  has  varied  in  the  period  before 
m3  compared  with  1903.  Mr.  Hall  savs-  "If 
tlie  same  proportions  had  obtained  in  the' earlier 
period  as  during  the  later  how  different  might 
our  country  und  its  institutions  now  be !" 

This  brings  up  the  question  of  type,  of  char-    The  Prob.e. 
acter,  and  of  homogeneity.    The  new  immigra-   **^  °*^"« 
tion  introduces  new  problems.    The  older  immi-    "*'"  ^""" 
gration,  before   i8;o,  was  chiefly  composed  of 


I30 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Extremes  of 
Opinion 


races  kindred  in  habits,  institutions,  and  tradi- 
tions to  the  original  colonist.*     To-day  we  face 
decidedly  different  conditions.    At  the  same  time 
study  of  these  comparatively  unknown  races  will 
bring  us  many  surprises,  and  knowledge  of  the 
facts  is  the  only  remedy  for  prejudice  and  the 
only  basis  for  constructive  Christian  work.    We 
must  know  something,   moreover,  of  the   Old 
Worid  environment  before  we  can  judge  of  the 
probable  development  of  these  peoples  in  Amer- 
ica, or  learn  the  way  of  readiest  access  to  them. 
For  they  will  not  become  Americanized  unless 
they  are  in  some  way  reached  by  Americans ;  and 
they  will  never  be  reached  until  they  are  under- 
stood. 

//.     The  Italians 

In  our  more  detailed  study  of  the  new  immi- 
gration we  take  first  the  Italians,  who  are  seen 
wherever  one  turns  in  our  cities,  and  are  perhaps 
the  most  conspicuous  of  the  immigrants.  Here 
we  come  at  once  upon  two  extremes  of  opinion. 
One  extreme  finds  little  or  nothing  that  is  favor- 
able to  the  Italians,  who  are  classed  all  together 
and  judged  in  the  light  of  the  Mafia,  or  "black 
hand,"  ready  for  all  deeds  of  darkness.  The 
other  lauds  these  aliens  so  highly  that  an  Italian 

•For  a  condensed  characterization  of  the  north  of  Europe  imnM 
Rrants  i^ad  the  chapter  on  Racial  Conditions  in  Immigration  fchri-. 
ill)  The  leadinR  traits  of  the  various  immigrant  peoples  a -o 
set  forth  with  fairness  and  discrimination,  although  probably  n.' 
of  those  described  would  see  themselves  exactlv  as  !.f-.  Hall  sc  , 
them. 


The  Xew  Immigration  131 

himself  said  to  the  writer,  referring  to  a  recent 
hook  about  his  people  in  America  :i  "I  suppose 
I  ought  to  be  glad  to  have  us  all  made  out  to  l)e 
saints,  but  I  am  afraid  there  is  another  side  to 
tlie  story."  We  shall  hope  to  find  the  truth 
between  these  extremes.  This  has  to  be  admiticd, 
on  the  start,  that  in  most  cases  those  who  have 
most  to  do  with  the  Italians,  of  whatever  class, 
become  warmly  interested  in  them,  and  believe 
both  in  their  ability  and  in  their  adaptability  to 
American  life. 

When  so  keen  a  writer  as  Emil  Reich,  in  dis- 
cussing "The  Future  of  the  Latin  Races,"  in  the 
Contemporary  Rcx'iczi',  says,  "there  can  be  little 
<loubt  tliat  the  Italians  are  the  most  gifted  nation 
in  Europe,"  we  see  that  it  is  a  mistake  to  class 
all  Italians  as  alike  and  put  them  under  the  ban 
of  contempt  as  "dagoes."  They  diflFer  from 
one  another  almost  as  much  as  men  can  differ 
who  are  still  of  the  same  color,  savs  a  recent 
writer.^ 

Most  northern  Italians  arc  of  the  Alpine 
race  and  have  short,  broad  skulls ;  southern  Ital- 
ians are  of  the  Mediterranean  race  and  have  long, 
narrow  skulls.  Between  the  two  lies  a  broacl 
strip  of  country,  peopled  by  those  of  mixed  blood. 
In  appearance  the  Italians  may  be  anvthing  from 
a  tow-headed  Teuton  to  a  swarthy  Arab.  Vary- 
ing with  the  district  from  which  he  comes,  in 

>7-**  Italian  in  Ameru:a.  ijohn  Foster  Carr  in  OuiU>ok. 


Radical 
OifTerences 


Marked 
OifTerences 
Between 
North  and 
South 


U2 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


DiflTerent 
Environment 


manner  he  may  be  rough  and  boisterous ;  suavo 

fluent,   and  gesticulative ;  or  grave  and   silent 

These  differences  extend  to  the  very  essentia!- 

of   life.     The  provinces  of   Italy  are   radical'', 

unlike,  not  only  in  dress,  cookery,  and  custom^ 

but  in  character,  thought,  and  speech.    A  distinct 

change  of  dialect  is  often  found  iv    .  -norningV 

walk.    An  ignorant  \'altellinese  fr        »'     moini- 

tains  of  the  north,  and  an  ignorant  :».^^^ntan 

have  as  yet  no  means  of  understanding  each 

other;  and  what   is  yet  more   remarkable,   th. 

speech  of  the  unschooled  peasant  of  Genoa   i. 

unintelligible  to   his   fellow  of   Piedmont,   wlm 

lives  less  than  one  hundred  miles  away. 

The  northern  Italian  is  the  result  of  a  superior 
environment.     His  section  is  more  prosperous, 
intelligent,  orderly,  and  modern.  The  industrialh 
progressive,  democratic  north  presents  a  striking: 
contrast  to  the  industrially  stagnant,  feudal  soutli 
The  northern  division  is  full  of  the  spirit  of  tlu- 
new  Italy,  and  its  people  are  less  prone  to  lea\e 
home.      Central    Italy,    too,    is    making    steadv 
advances  in  agriculture  and  education,  and  the 
peasant  farmer  is  a  stay-at-home.     In  southern 
Italy  agriculture  is  practically  the  sole  reliance 
of  the  people,   the   lot  of  the   day   laborers   i> 
wretched,  and  the  failure  of  a  wheat  crop  is  a> 
disastrous  as  the  potato  famine  in  Ireland  was  tn 
the  Irish  in  1847.     United  Italy  is  undoubtedly 
making  progress  in  education  and  industry,  t!ie 


The  New  Immigration 


^33 


standards  of  living  are  rising,  and  the  monev  sent 
or  carried  back  to  Italy  from  America  has  liclpcd 
to  some  degree  in  this  advancement.  ReHgiously, 
of  course,  the  domination  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  continues  over  all  Italy,  and  in  illiteracy 
as  in  other  respects  Italy  is  an  example  of  what 
this  ecclesiastical  rule  mc..,s  where  it  has  power 
over  the  people  sufficient  to  enable  it  to  work  its 
will. 

In  view  of  these   facts   regarding  the  home   Common 
environment  and  difference  in  peoples,  it  will  not   ^""""^  °'**" 
do.  evidently,  to  use  sweepmg  generalizations,  or 
to   regard  the  organ-grinder  and   fruit-peddler 
as  the  repre  entatives  of  Italy  in  America.    We 
receive  all  grades,  from  cultured  professionals  to 
illiterate  peasants,  though  mainly,  of  course,  the 
peasant  class.     The  one  common  feature  of  the 
Italian  provinces  is  the  poverty  produced  by  the 
crushing    taxes     and     agricultural     depression. 
Absentee    landlordism    has    blighted    southern 
Italy  as  it  has  Ireland.    Yet  with  great  tracts  of 
fertile  soil  thus  held  away  from  the  people,  and 
with  no  new  territory  to  cultivate,  the  population 
of  Italy  has  increased  within  twenty  years  from 
twenty-eight  and  a  half  to  thirty-two  and  a  half 
millions,  an  average  density  of  301  per  square 
mile,    and    the    excess    of    births    over    deaths 
amounts  to  nearly  350,000  a  year.     Hence  the 
question  with  the  people  in  overcrowded  districts 
is  simply  emigration  or  starvation.    The  southern 


134 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Figures  of 
Italian  Immi- 
gration 


i 

«. 


Italian  is  driven  from  home  by  necessity  to  work 
and  work  is  to  be  found  in  America,  so  he  comes' 
.His   labor   is   mostly   unskilled,   and   this   is   in 
demand  here.     The  result  is  that  almost  eijjhtv 
per  cent,  of  the  Italian  immigrams  are  males- 
over  eighty  per  cent,  are  between  fourteen  an-l 
forty-five,  the  working  age ;  over  eighty  per  cent 
are  from  the  southern  provinces,  and  nearly  the 
same  percentage  are  unskilled  laborers,  and  a 
large  majority  of  these  arc  illiterates.  The  eightv 
per  cent,   of  "human  capital   of  fresh,   stron- 
young  men"  is  Italy's  contribution  to  America'^ 
and  IS  a  force  winning  its  way  to  recognition. 

Let  us  note  the  growth  of  Italian  immigration 
Its  sources,  and  its  distribution.     In  the  si-^ 
years  from   1820  to   1880  only  68,633   Italiai 
made  their  way  to  America,  while  during  thi. 
period  the  total  foreign  immigration  was  over 
ten  millions.    The  census  of  1890  gave  the  Italian 
population  of  the  United  States  as  only  182,580 
and  at  that  date  not  over  a  half  million'in  all' had 
come  here.     The  rapid  increase  during  recent 
years  is  shown  in  the  following  table : 


IMMIGRATION  FROM  ITALY  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 

J890 51799 

1891 70,a55 

1892 61.237 

1893 72.916 

1894 43  967 

1895 36,961 

1996 68,960 

1897 69.431 


1898 58,613 

1899 774,,, 

l*"' 100,1*-) 

1901 136,99<1 

1*^ 178,375 

1903 230,022 

1904 193,290 

1905 221,479 


The  New  Immigration  135 

This  shows  how  steady  and  remarkable  the 
immigration  has  been  since  1900.  In  five  years 
959.768  Italians  have  come  to  this  country. 
Surely  it  is  worth  our  while  to  know  more  par- 
ticularly the  character  of  this  million  and  their 
promise  as  an  element  in  our  civilization.  Thou- 
sands of  them  are  "birds  of  passage" — that  is, 
they  come  and  go,  earning  money  here  and  going 
back  home  to  spend  it  and  then  returning  to  earn 
more;  but  tens  of  thousands  come  to  stay,  and 
will  play  their  part  in  shaping  our  future. 

The  distribution  of  the  Italians  is  shown  par- 
tially in  the  accompanying  diagram.  This, 
however,  is  based  upon  the  Census  of  1900,  and 
does  not  account  for  the  million  arrivals  since 
1900.  The  destination  clause  in  the  immigrant's 
manifesto  gives  light  upon  the  matter  of  distribu- 
tion, although  the  incomer  does  not  always  get 
to  the  point  named  in  his  papers.  From  the  offi- 
cial report  for  1905  these  results  are  drawn : 

T      ,.,  i<"rth         South 

^'■'""y  It;ilian        Italian        Total 

^^y"'"^ 9,738  81,572  01.3(!,5 

NowJerw-y. 1.272  11,494  I27i,.i 

I  ennsy  yania 7.554  ^yfy-^  ^■^.■, 

(|.nnccticut 1.626  5,k»  7  4iil 

lafflachusotu 2,011  11,747  ISJo-S 

Hnode  Island 12fl  •)4w  o  -  ,u 

'"'P""* 3,(i63  oVk^S  laks 

''"": m  6.230  7.n<>l 

Michi^n.... 1.330  i.rt4(»  o.,;,, 

« est  Virginm 42i  •>  9^7  3  ma 

jf""'ana 177  o.m  2m 

J,'!»«?"r'--. 769  1.477  212^ 

MuBiMippi 674  213  8.S7 

Lwht  Southern  States 467  1,037  1  jXi 

C^'f"™'* *M3  1,081  5W, 

^'•^f^° h24  881  1705 


Distribution 
Italians 


I3^> 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


lUlian* 
and  Irish 
Compared 


Tt  is  interesting  to  note  that  at  least  one  Italian 
immigrant  was  destined  to  every  state  and  terri- 
tory.    Of  the  total   Italian  population   in   this 
country  in  1900,  62.4  per  cent,  was  in  the  iTk) 
principal  cities,  and  nearly  one  half  in  New  York 
alone.     The  percentage  of  Italians  attracted  to 
the  cities  is  almost  exactly  the  same  as  that  of 
the  Irish.     An  interesting  parallel,  indeed,  may 
be   drawn   between   these   races.     The   Italians 
to-day  occupy  largely  the  place  occupied  by  the 
Irish  of  yesterday.    The  Irish  came  in  the  earlier 
years  by  reason  of  distressing  conditions  at  home, 
forcing  them  to  seek  a  living  elsewhere;  this  is 
now  true  of  the  Italians.    The  Irish  were  chiefly 
peasants,  unskilled  laborers  and  illiterate;  so  are 
the  Italians.    The  Irish  came  mainly  from  agri- 
cultural sections  and  herded  in  the  great  cities; 
so  do  the  Italians.     The  handy  weapon  of  the 
Irish  was  the  shillalah,  that  of  the  Italian  is  the 
stiletto.     The  Irish  found  ready  employment  by 
reason  of  the  demand  for  cheap  unskilled  labor 
created   by   the   vast  material   enterprises   of   a 
swiftly  developing  country,  with  cities  and  towns 
and  railroads  to  build ;  this  work  is  done  by  the 
Italians  now,  and  they  are  commonly  conceded  to 
be  in  many  respects  better  at  the  job.    Here  is  a 
sample  of  the  kind  of  testimony  frequently  given 
concerning  them  as  workers:^ 

"I  have  learned  to  be  cautious  in  comparing 


'Dr.  S.  H.  Lee  in  Baptist  Home  Mission  Monthly,  for  May,  1905. 


The  New  Inunigration 


»37 


Good  Workers 


races.    I  find  good.  bad.  and  indifferent  people  in 
all  races.     But  I  dissent  from  the  current  notion 
that  the  southern  Italian  is  so  much  inferior  to 
the  northern.    As  a  people  there  is  more  illiteracy 
among  them;  but  when  he  goes  to  school  the 
southern  Italian  holds  his  own  with  the  northern. 
Another  fact  of  promise  is  that  Italians  have  not 
lost  the  spirit  of  service.    They  are  good  work- 
men.    Not  long  since,  asking  a  contractor  who 
was  building  a  sewer  in  the  city  why  he  had  only 
Italians  in  hie  employ,  he  replied,    Because  they 
are  the  best  workmen,  and  there  are  enough  of 
them.     If  an  Italian  down  in  that  ditch  has  a 
shovelful  of  earth  half  way  up  when  the  whistle 
blows  for  dinner,  he  will  not  drop  it;  he  will 
throw  it  up ;  the  Irishman  and  the  French-Cana- 
dian will  drop  it.    And  when  the  lunch  hour  is 
over,  when  the  clock  strikes  the  Italian  will  be 
leaning  on  his  shovel  ready  to  go  to  work,  but 
the  Irishman  will  be  out  under  that  tree  and  he 
will  be  three  minutes  getting  to  his   job,  and 
three  minutes  each,  for  150  men,  is  not  a  small 
item.'    The  Italian  does  not  regard  his  employer 
as  his  natural  enemy.    He  has  the  spirit  of  kindly 

ervice." 
The  writer   can   confirm   this   from   personal   cheerful  .nd 

,  ,    ,  ,  Responsive 

observation.  The  Italians  are  cheerful  workers, 
and  on  hand  ten  to  fifteen  minutes  before  the 
hour  to  begin  work.  They  relish  a  kind  word, 
and  can  give  lessons  in  politeness  to  many  an 


138 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Flower  of  tht 
Peaaantry 


it 

I 


Demand  for 

UnikiUed 

Labor 


American-bom.    Ask  an>  me  brought  in  contact 
with  them  and  you  will  get  the  same  testimony. 

According  to  Adolfo  Rossi,  Supervisor  of  the 
Italian  Immigration  Department,  who  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  proper  distribution  and  welfare 
of  his  countrymen  in  America,  these  immigrants 
are  the  flower  of  the  laboring  class  of  Italy. 
Economically  they  are  doubtless  of  value  at  so 
many  dollars  per  head.    But  of  far  more  impor- 
tance is  the  question,  what  are  they  in  the  social 
fabric  ?    If,  as  some  assert,  the  Italian  race  stock 
is  inferior  and  degraded,  if  it  will  not  assimilate 
naturally  with  the  American,  or  will  tend  to  lower 
our  standards,  then  it  is  undesirable*  even  though 
the  immigrant  had  a  bank  account  in  addition  to 
his  sturdy  body.  The  further  one  investigates  the 
subject,  the  less  likely  is  he  to  conclude  that  the 
Italian  is  to  be  adjudged  undesirable,  as  a  race. 
He  must  be  judged  individually  on  his  merits. 

Mr.  Carr  draws  a  decidedly  favorable  picture 
of  the  Italians,  whether  from  north  or  south.  He 
says  that  immediate  work  and  high  wages,  and 
not  a  love  for  the  tenement,  create  our  "Little 
Italies."  The  great  enterprises  in  progress  in 
and  about  the  city,  the  subway,  tunnels,  water- 
works, railroad  construction,  as  well  as  the  ordi- 
nary building  operations,  call  for  a  vast  arniv  of 
laborers.  It  is  the  educated  Italian  immigrant 
without  a  manual  tr.'de  who  fails  in  America. 
The   illiterate   laborer  takes   no  chances.     The 


The  New  Immigration 


139 


migratory  laborer — for  more  than  (>8.ooo  Itahans 
went  back  to  Italy  in  1903,  and  134.000  in  1904 — 
confers  an  industrial  blessing  by  his  very  mobil- 
ity. Then,  in  his  opinion,  there  is  something  to 
be  said  for  the  illiterates  who  remain  here.  They 
are  never  anarchists;  they  are  guiltless  of  the 
so-called  "black  hand"  letters.  The  individual 
laborer  is,  in  fact,  rarely  anything  but  a  gentle 
and  often  a  ratlier  dull  drudge.  More  than  this, 
our  school  system  deprives  us  of  unskilled  labor- 
ers. The  gangs  that  dig  sewers  and  subways  and 
build  railways  are  recruited  from  the  illiter- 
ate or  nearly  so,  and  for  our  supply  of  the  lower 
grades  of  labor  we  must  depend  upon  countries 
with  a  poorer  school  system  than  ours. 

Concerning  the  charge  that  the  Italian  is  a 
degenerate,  lazy  and  a  pauper,  half  a  criminal, 
a  menace  to  our  civilization,  it  is  shown  that  in 
New  York  the  Italians  number  about  450,000, 
the  Irish  over  300,0^0.  In  males — the  criminal 
sex — the  Italians  outnumber  the  Irish  two  to  one. 
Yet  in  1904  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  Irish,  and  only  sixteen  Italians,  were 
admitted  to  the  almshouse  on  Black  well's  Island.  ^ 
Mr.  James  Forbes,  chief  of  the  Mendicancy 
Department  of  the  Charity  Organization  Soci- 
ety, says  he  has  never  seen  or  heard  of  an  Italian 
tramp.  In  reply  to  this,  those  who  dislike  the 
Italians   say   that  their   cheap   labor   has   made 


Favorable 
Compariaoo 


'  Location  of  various  public  institutions  of  \e\v  York  City. 


Italiana  Not 
Befgara 


I 


Few  Inaane 


>40  Aliens  or  Americans? 

tramps  of  many  who  would  otherwise  be  em- 
ployed. As  for  begging,  between  July  i.  1904. 
and  September  30,  1905.  the  Mendicancy  Police 
in  Xew  York  took  into  custody  519  Irish  an! 
only  92  Italians.  This  table  will  be  found  inter- 
esting : 

NATIVITY  OF  PKRSONS  ADMITTKn  TO  AI.MSHOl'SE  (NKW  YORK)  I.V 

1000 
I-  -.^  o.  .  *'*'•'         Ffmale       Totil 

ffl   "'- »»  '•»  5-5* 

ScotUnd •il  R  ^l] 

France «  >|  *' 

Norway,  Sweden  and  Di'nmark..,. '....■.;.;.;  23  «  2s 

Other  countri™..  .■;;;;.■;.■:.■;.':.:;.■.'.;.■  so       ^       H 

l,fi85  1.241  2,9;i.. 

This  ought  to  correct  some  ideas  as  to  where 
the  pauperism  comes  from.  Certainly  the  Ital- 
ians are  not  to  be  charged  with  it.  Conditions 
in  Boston  show  equally  well  for  the  Italians.  The 
proportions  for  the  whole  country  also  give  them 
a  remarkably  low  degree  as  compared  with  other 
rac    . 

.  to  insanity,  the  figures  tell  their  own  sto")  : 
I  .he  charitable  institutions  of  the  country,  there 
were  of  the  insane :  Irish,  5,943  ;  Germans.  4.408 : 
English.  1,822;  Scandinavians.  1,985;  and  Ital- 
ians, 718.  As  shown  by  the  analysis  of  the 
Bureau  of  Immigration,  the  proportion  of  Irish 
in  the  charitable  institutions  is  30  per  cent.,  of 
Germans  19,  of  English  8.5,  while  the  Italians 
and  Hebrews  are  each  8  per  cent. 


Tlic  New   Iinmigration 


«4i 


Total 

l.r.i: 

3t 

21 

374 

2S 
1'* 


The  important  point  of  crinic  remains  to  be  cnminaJ 
ctmsidorcil.  Ik-rc  the  Italian  is  commonly  rated  "•"""* 
very  hiph,  by  reason  of  the  violent  and  conspicu- 
ous nature  of  most  of  his  crimes,  which  are 
ajjainst  the  person.  \Vc  hear  of  the  brutal  mur- 
ders, the  threats  of  the  Mafia,  the  secret  assassi- 
nations, and  frefiuent  sanguinary  stiletto  afTrays, 
and  are  apt  to  regard  the  whole  race  as  quarrel- 
some and  murderous.  The  facts  do  not  bear  out 
this  opinion.  Here  again  they  appear  rather  to 
the  disadvantage  of  the  older  type  of  immigrant. 
The  United  States  Industrial  Commission  on 
Immigration  shows,  by  its  statistical  reiK>rt,* 
that  "taking  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  the 
whites  of  foreign  birth  are  a  trifle  less  criminal 
than  the  total  number  of  whites  of  native  birth." 
This  report  further  says :  "Taking  the  inmates  of 
all  penal  and  charitable  institutions,  we  find  that 
the  highest  ratio  is  shown  by  the  Irish,  whose 
proportion  is  more  than  double  the  average  for 
the  foreign-born,  amounting  to  no  less  than 
16,624  to  the  million." 

I»y  far  the  greatest  proportion  of  crime  is  Italian* 
caused  by  intemperance,  and  here  the  Italians  "^""p*"** 
are  at  a  decided  advantage,  for  they  are 
among  the  least  intemperate  of  the  foreign  peo- 
jiles,  and  far  less  so  than  the  average  native-born. 
Arrests  for  drunkenness  are  exceedingly  rare 
among  them,  and  a  drunken  Italian  woman  is  as 


'Industrial  Ciiinniis'.ion  Rcpurt  tn  Congress,  Dec.  •;,  igoi. 


142 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I 


Crimea  of 
Aaaault 


I 

n- 


rare   as  one  of   immoral   character.     While   in 
Massachusetts  three  in  a  hundred  of  the  northern 
races,  mcluding  the  Scotch.  Irish.  Enfrjish.  an.l 
Germans,  were  arrested  for  intemperance  in  a 
fifiven  year,  only  three  in  a  thousand  of  the  Ital- 
ians were   arrested   on   this   charge.      In   these 
respects   the   race   is   deserving  of   great   com- 
mendation, especially  in  face  «>f  the  tenement  con- 
ditions into  which  most  of  the  newcomers  arv 
thrust.     If  they  l^ecome  worse  in  America  than 
they  were  when  they  came,  we  ought  to  take  heed 
to  the  sins  of  greed,  and  not  put  all  the  blame  on 
tlie  aliens. 

In  crimes  against  the  person  the  Italians  arc 
at  their  worst,  but  the  aflfrays  with  knives  an-l 
pistols  are  confined  mostly  to  their  own  national- 
ity, and  grow  out  of  jeaiuusy  or  rivalry  or  resent- 
ment at  fancied  injuries.    "There  are.  no  doubt." 
says  Dr.  S.  J.  Barrows. »  "murders  of  sheer  bru- 
tality, or  those  committed  in  the  course  of  rol)- 
bery.    There  are  known  instances  also  of  black- 
mail and  dastardly  assassination  by  individual, 
or   bands  of  ruffians.     But   such   outrages   arc 
utterly  at  variance  with  the  known  disposition 
of  the  great  mass  of  the  Italians  in  this  countr\ . 
There  are  vile  men  in  every  nationality,  and  it 
does  not  appear  by  any  substantial  evidence  that 
the  Italian  is  peculiarly  burdened,  though  it  ha> 
been  unwarrantably  reproached  through  ignor 

^The  Italian  in  America,  215,  it6. 


The  Xcw  Immigration 


M3 


ance  or  prejudice."  This  is  the  opinion  of  an 
expert  in  criminology,  who  has  traveled  exten- 
sively in  Italy  and  knows  the  people  on  both  sides 
of  the  sea. 

It  is  a  fact  of  importance  that  the  great  major- 
ity of  the  Italian  immigrants,  while  classed  as 
unskilled,  have  had  some  experience  in  fanning 
or  gardening  or  home  industries  of  some  kind. 
There  is  a  larger  percentage  of  skilled  labor  than 
is  commonly  supjwsed,  and  the  list  is  interesting. 
The  Annual  Report  on  Immigration  for  H)0^, 
for  example,  gives  the  distribution  by  occupation, 
from  which  we  take  some  of  the  leading  classes: 

PROFESSIONS,  TRADES  ANT>  IN'niSTRlES  OF  THE  ITAIJWS 
ADMITTKU  IN  19a5 


<v-        .•  North  Smith 

0«-,ipation  ,.,^,j,  ,^,,y 

Arrhitccti 10  10 

Orirv- W  tW 

Ixlitdm 9  6 

i:i(Ytri'i:inii 24  20 

Ijiginwre,  rnrfpwiciii.il  20  24 

Lawypnt 12  2-» 

LiUrary  and  wiciitific 

pcrwitiB '.!>  li 

Mufirbno ..  3S  240 

Phynirinrp 'M  72 

;^culpU)rs  and  artL«t«. .  Ilii  52 

Tcaclipri 31  45 

Hakcn. 201  571 

Harben> 82  1,71« 

niackiimiths 1«8  «W 

liutchera 65  27S 


Carpont*-™  and  (Mliinct 

m;ikrr» 

Dr.iRinukcra 

(iardrnef 

M,'«m» 

Minm 

Shoemaker* 

SUinecutters 

Tttilon 

Fiirm  laliorrra 

Famifrs 

Manufiicturpr* 

McrriuiiU  and  deolen. 

Servant* 

LnUirws 

No  occupation,  inrliid- 
ing  childna  under  14 


North 
liidy 

3117 

Itil 

30 

1.374 

I.M3 

2J(7 

40!) 

230 

6.1N1 

l,3y7 

14 

fA7 

2.752 

14.2"J1 


7.632  32,115 


Italian!  not 
all  Untkiltetf 


South 
Italy 

I.H.57 

ol.^ 

U'A 

3,1M 

492 

4.0(M 

,567 

2  501 

tKt.529 

4.M4 

32 

1  415 

«.ti«>« 

5«).O40 


It  will  be  seen  that  not  all  the  Italians  who 
come  are  mere  hewer>  ot  wood  and  drawers  of 
water ;  while  there  is  a  distinct  tendency  on  the 
part  of  those  who  begin  at  the  bottom  of  drudg- 
erv.  in  the  subwavs  of  American  civilization,  to 


Tendency  to 
Advance 


lUi 


144 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


.-'♦ 


r 


advance.     The  desire  for  education  and  better- 
DMire  for  ment  is  as  manifest  as  it  is  hopeful.    No  parents 

Education  ,  .   .  ,  .     .  *^ 

are  more  ambitious  for  their  children,  or  more 
devotedly  attached  to  them,  than  are  the  Italian 
immigrants  who  have  brought  over  their  fami- 
lies, and  no  children  in  our  schools  are  brighter 
or  more  attentive.    There  is  good  blood  in  the 
Italian  strain.    They  are  an  art  and  music-lovin-; 
people,  and  in  this  respect  the  southern  Italians 
take  the  lead.    They  come  from  a  land  of  beaut} 
and  fame,  song  and  sunshine,  and  bring  a  sunny 
temperament  not  easily  soured  by  hardship  or 
disappointment.      Otherwise   the   tenement   and 
labor-camp  experiences  in  America  would  soon 
spoil  them.     With  the  exception  of  the  money 
they  earn,  the  change  has  been  all  for  the  worse. 
The  thrift  of  the  Italians  is  proverbial.     '^  < 
earn  and  save  money  they  will  live  in  conditions 
unsanitary,  unhealthy,  and  degrading.     It  is  not 
because  they  love  dirt  and  degradation,  but  that 
they  want  money  so  much  that  they  will  put  up 
with  anything  to  get  it.    They  can  live  and  save 
a  bit  where  an  American  family  would  starve. 
They  have  fairly  monopolized  for  a  time  certain 
lines  into  which  they  entered — as  the  small  fruit 
trade,  the  bootblacking  business,  and  other  pur- 
suits.   It  is  said  that  they  have  made  the  Ameri- 
cans a   fruit-eating  people.     Supplanted  in  the 
street-vending  of  fruit  by  the  Greek,  the  Italian 
has  gone  into  business  in  earnest,  and  you  find  the 


Amazioff 
Thrift 


1* 

J:-2 

i 


The  New  Immigration 


H5 


small  fruit  stands  everywhere,  with  always  a 
good  stock,  and  by  no  means  a  low  price.  As 
barbers  and  tailors,  too,  the  Italians  are  becom- 
ing known.  They  have  a  passion  for  land,  ?.nd 
acquire  property  rapidly.  Take  the  increase  of 
their  real  estate  holdings  in  Xew  York  as 
an  example.  Mr.  G.  Tuoti,  a  representative 
Italian  operator  in  real  estate,  says  that  twenty 
years  ago  there  was  not  a  single  Italian  owner 
of  real  estate  in  the  districts  where  such  owners 
now  predominate.  He  has  a  list  of  more  than 
800  landowners  of  Italian  descent,  whose  aggre- 
gate holdings  in  New  York  are  appro.ximately 
$15,000,000.^ 

As  to  Italian  savings  and  investments  in  the 
same  city,  Mr.  Gino  C.  Speranza,  Vice-President 
of  the  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Italian  Immi- 
grants, computes  the  Italian  investments  in  the 
city  savings-banks  to  total  more  than  $15,000,000. 
He  puts  the  real  estate  holdings  at  4.000.  of  the 
clear  value  of  $20,000,000.  He  estimates  that 
10.000  stores  in  the  city  are  owned  by  Italians,  and 
sets  their  value  at  $7,000,000,  with  a  further 
investment  of  as  much  more  in  wholesale  busi- 
ness. He  makes  the  total  material  value  of  the 
property  of  ihc  Italian  colony  in  New  York  to  be 
over  $60,000,000,  and  says  this  value  is  relatively 
below  that  of  the  Italian  possessions  in  Saint 
Louis.  Boston,  and  Chicago.    The  Italian  Cham- 


Property 
Holding* 


T/i*  Italian  in  America,  78. 


146 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I. 

J 


The  New  Immigration 


147 


I 


ber  of  Commerce  has  over  two  hundred  members, 
and  has  done  much  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  immigrants.  There  is  one  distinctively 
ItaHan  Savings  Bank,  with  an  aggregate  of 
deposits  approximating  $1,100,000,  and  about 
7.000  open  accounts.  Sixteen  daily  and  weekly 
Italian  newspapers  in  Xcw  York  alone  indicate 
that  the  people  are  reading,  and  that  not  all  are 
illiterates  by  any  means.  The  Italian  Hospital, 
the  Italian  Benevolent  Institute,  and  over  150 
Italian  societies  for  mutual  aid  and  social  improve- 
ment— all  tliis  in  New  York — indicate  a  degree 
of  enterprise  and  progress.  In  the  smaller  cities 
the  condition  of  the  Italians  is  in  many  respects 
much  better  than  in  the  great  centers,  since  the 
tenement  evils  are  escaped.  The  reports  from 
such  cities  as  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  and 
Schenectady,  New  York,  are  most  favorable  as 
to  the  general  character  of  the  Italians  as  faithful 
workers  and  peaceful  residents. 

In  the  cities  and  on  the  small  farms  of  the 
South  and  West  the  j^rosperity  of  the  Italians  is 
marked.  They  take  unproductive  land  and  make 
it  fertile  soil  for  truck-gardening,  and  have  in- 
c  eased  the  value  of  surround  j;  lands  in  Louisi- 
ana and  other  states  by  sho\  ing  what  can  be 
done.  If  they  can  be  distributed  properly,  and 
gotten  out  of  the  congested  city  wards,  there  is 
unquestionably  a  future  of  prosperity  for  them. 
A  Texas  colony  described  by  Signor  Rossi,  who 


Increasing 
Land  Values 


148 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Succeisful 
Truck  Farmers 


r 

I* 

I. 

* 


A  Good 
Proposition 


recently  investigated  conditions  with  view  to 
securing  a  better  distribution  by  informing 
intending  emigrants  as  to  the  openings  for  them 
in  agricultural  sections,  illustrates  the  success  of 
the  Italians  as  gardeners  and  farmers. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  San  Francisco  Italians 
have  cultivated  about  250  truck  farms.     They 
"obtain  the  manure  from  the  city  stables  gratis, 
and  transform  into  fertile  farms  the  original  sand 
dunes."    Nearly  all  our  cities  where  Italians  have 
settled  are  receiving  vegetables  and  fruit  as  the 
product  of  Italian  labor,  and  the  Italian  is  first 
in  the  market.    They  are  found  on  Long  Island 
and  Staten  Island,  in  New  Jersey  and  Delaware, 
in  Virginia,  and  in  all  the  New  England  states. 
Near  Memphis.  Tennessee,  there  is  a  large  and 
noted  colony  of  truck  farmers,  and  they  have 
done   much   to   remove  the  prejudice   formerly 
existing  against  Italian  labor  in  the  South.'     In 
this  connection   we  give  hearty  second   to  the 
statesmanlike  proposition  made  by  a   Christian 
worker  who  has  been  brought  into  close  touch 
with  the  Italians  and  other  foreign  peoples  in 
Brooklyn  :^ 

"Pure  philanthropy  could  not  find  a  better  field 
for  the  investment  of  a  few  hundred  thousand 
dollars  than  in  the  organization  of  farm  and 

.v,!;^  'wif ''*/*''''  showiriK  of  what  the  Italians  have  accomplished 
through  these  farmitiK  colonies  in  various  parts  of  the  countrA-is  ci  ven 
m  he  chapter  "On  Farm  and  Plantation.  ^  in  Tl^  I, ali^^)^A^Vr)^^_ 

iQoo.'''''  ^'  ^"  ^'"■"^^'"'  ^O-  i"  New  York    Ex^miufr.  June    2». 


The  New  Immigration 


149 


garden  colonies  a  few  miles  out  from  our  great 
city.  On  Long  Island  there  are  many  thousands 
of  acres  of  light,  arable  land  perfectly  adapted 
to  the  raising  of  small  fruits  and  garden  prod- 
ucts. Irrigation  plants  could  be  provided  at 
moderate  cost,  insuring  generous  crops.  The 
Italian  is  prepared  by  nature,  and  by  training  in 
his  own  home  land,  for  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 
In  a  small  way  he  has  demonstrated  his  ability 
in  the  land  of  his  adoption  to  do  the  very  things 
here  suggested.    What  he  needs  is  a  fair  chance. 

What  is  needed  is  the  guiding  hand  of  strong  ouid- 
'philanthropy  and  five  per  cent.'  to  lead  out  of  the  Saede'd  ** 
congested  and  squalid  tenement  districts  thou- 
sands of  these  poor  yet  industrious  people  who 
could  make  our  deserts  of  Long  Island  sand  and 
scrub  oak  blossom  as  the  rose.  Let  the  modern 
method  find  illustration  here.  Let  our  philan- 
thropist choose  for  himself  a  board  of  trustees 
to  whom  should  be  delegated  the  management 
of  a  generous  fund  toward  the  end  proposed. 
Keen-minded  and  great-hearted  business  men 
there  are  who  would  delight  to  give  time  and 
care  to  so  worthy  an  object :  and  within  five 
years  a  colony  of  25.000  Italians  could  be  tratis- 
ported  and  translated  from  the  ghettos  and  filthv. 
crowded  tenement  districts  of  our  great  city  into 
God's  open  country,  there  to  be  .speedily  trans- 
formed into  industrious,  self-supporting  Amer- 
ican citizens.    Having  studied  this  problem  for 


. 


I50 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Point 


k^ 


t  . 


years,  I  believe  it  is  entirely  feasible.    Brain  and 
heart,  time  and  talent,  land  and  water,  enlarging 
markets  demamling  produce,  men.  women,  and 
children  begging  for  an  opportunity  to  earn  a 
decent  living— all  these  are  ready  and  waiting 
The  cruci.1   for  use  and  service.     All  that  is  lacking  is  an 
adequate  supply  of  good  money  to  set  the  enter- 
prise in  motion.     We  have  millions  invested  at 
Coney  Island,  at  Gravescnd  racing  track,  and  at 
the  new  Belmont  Park,  to  beguile  and  hypnotize 
the  masses.    God  must  have  in  his  keeping  some- 
where millions  to  uplift  and  redeem  the  masses. 
There  is  unspeakable  need  that  ♦hey  be  ministered 
unto  in  the  spirit  of  the  Master." 

These  are  weighty  and  practical  words,  and 
some  day  Christian  men  of  wealth  will  see  the 
wisdom  of  them.  How  could  American  prosper- 
ity better  insure  itself  and  all  it  represents  for 
the  future? 

What,  then,  is  the  conclusion  of  our  study? 
On  the  whole,  decidedly  favorable  to  the  Italian, 
while  recognizing  the  vicious  and  undesirable 
element  that  forms  a  comparatively  small  part  of 
the  whole.  The  Italian  in  general  is  approach- 
able, receptive  to  American  ideas,  not  criminal 
by  nature  more  than  other  races,  not  difficult  to 
adapt  himself  to  new  environment,  and  eager  to 
earn  and  learn.  He  furnishes  excellent  raw 
mater  ■  for  American  citizenship,  if  he  does  not 
come   .     rapidly  to  be  Americanized.    But  what 


Opportunity 
of  Wealth 


Favorable 
Conclusion 


The  New  Immigration 


i^i 


he  will  mean  to  America,  for  good  or  ill,  depends 
almost  wholly  upon  what  America  does  for  and 
with  and  through  him.  Thus  far,  there  has  been 
too  much  of  prejudice  and  neglect.  Better 
acquaintance  is  the  first  step  toward  the  trans- 
formation of  the  Italian  alien  into  the  Italian- 
American. 

As  for  the  religious  side,  here  is  testimony 
from  a  Roman  Catholic  source.  Mrs.  Betts 
says:* 

"The  relation  between  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  and  the  mass  of  the  Italians  in  this  coun- 
try is  a  source  of  grief.  Reluctantly  the  writer 
has  to  blame  the  ignorance  and  bigotry  of  the 
immigrant  priests  who  set  themselves  against 
American  influence;  men  who  too  often  lend 
themselves  to  the  purposes  of  the  ward  heeler, 
the  district  leader  in  controlling  the  people,  who 
too  often  keep  silence  when  the  poor  are  the 
victims  of  the  shrewd  Italians  who  have  grown 
rich  on  the  ignorance  of  their  countrymen.  One 
man  made  $8,000  by  supplying  1,000  laborers  to 
a  railroad.  He  collected  $5  from  each  man  as  a 
railroad  fare,  though  transportation  was  given 
by  the  road,  and  $3  from  each  man  for  the 
material  to  build  a  house.  The  men  supposed  it 
was  to  be  a  home  for  their  families.  They  found 
as  a  home  the  wretched  shelters  provided  by  con- 
tractors, with  which  we  are  all  familiar.     This 

»  University  Settlement  Studies.  December,  1905. 


Roman 

Catholic 

Tettimony 


152 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


AcccttibU  to 
Evangtlism 


Exceptionally 
Open-minded 


•a 


transaction,  when  known,  did  not  disturb  the 
Church  or  social  relations  of  the  offender,  but  it 
■  creased  his  political  power,  tor  it  showed  what 
he  could  do.     He  is  recojjnized  tt)-day  as  the 

Mayor  of street ;  liis  influence  is  met 

everywhere." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Italians  are  acces- 
sible to  evangelical  Christianity.  Thousands  of 
them  appreciate  the  true  character  of  the  Church 
that  tried  to  prevent  Italian  unity  and  liberty,  and 
they  are  peculiarly  open  to  the  truths  of  democ- 
racy and  the  gospel.  The  home  missionary  finds 
among  them  a  fruitful  field.  Dr.  Lee  expresses 
the  conclusions  of  many  observers,  and  indicates 
also  a  gate  of  personal  opportunity  to  serve, 
when  he  says,  as  a  result  of  personal  observation 
and  effort : 

"Incident  to  the  general  recoil  from  the  papal 
control,  an  enormous  number  of  the  Italians  com- 
ing to  this  country  are  out  of  the  old  Church; 
they  are  without  religion,  yet  are  in  a  way  grop- 
ing after  one.  As  a  consequence  the  Italian  is 
exceptionally  open-minded.  You  can  talk  with 
him.  He  is  not  suspicious — not  apprehensive 
lest  you  mislead  him.  He  may  have  no  respect 
for  any  kind  of  religion,  but  he  is  not  afraid  that 
you  will  lure  him  into  forbidden  paths.  He  is 
beginning  to  think— a  privilege  which  he  has 
been  denied  in  the  past.  This  open-mindedness 
is  readiness  to  accept  the  spirit  and  theories  of 


The  Xcw  Imniigralion 


'53 


American  life:  for  opeit-inindcilncss  is  an  Ameri- 
can characteristic." 

And  open-mindedness  toward  tfie  j^ospcl  is  the 
vestibule  to  conversion, 

QUESTIONS  FOR  CHAl'TKR   IV 


Aim:  To  Considee  thf.  DEStRABiiirv  of  the  Italians 

AS    ImMK.RANTS,    and    the    Ol'I'OKTL-.VITY    FOR    WoRK 

Among  Them. 


I. 


II. 


Contrast  the  Old  and  Xczv  Immigration. 

1.  What  is  the  "N'ew  Immigration"? 

2.  VVhat  has  become  of  the  earher  immi>?rants? 
Was  their  coming  a  benefit  t<>  the  United 
States  ^ 

3-  Would  your  judgment  concerning  it  have  been 
the  same  when  they  were  coming? 

4-  What  races  have  gained  and  what  have  lo.t  in 
their  respective  proportions? 

The  Italians. 

5-  What  are  the  leading  types  at  present?  \\  Iiat 
are  they  likely  to  be  in  the  future' 

6.  Mention  opposing  opinions  as  to  the  Itali.ms? 
Which  seem  to  you  nearer  tiio  truth? 
What  differences  are  there  b«t\veeii  Italians 
from  different  parts  of  Italy? 
From  what  class  come  most  of  the  Italians 
now  arriving?  Of  what  sex?  What  age' 
What  skill? 

How  lias  Italian  imnngration  grown  in  ninn- 
bers?     How  ha>  it  been  distributed? 
What   proportion   go   West  and   South'     Are 
efforts  being  made  to  attract  them  an>wiKre? 


7. 
8. 

9- 

10. 


»54 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


{li 


III.  Are  the  Italians  a  Desirable  Class  of  Immigrants' 

11.  How  tlo  they  -ompare  with  thr  early  Iri-Ii 
immigrants  ?    \V  ;th  other  nationalities  ? 

li.  What  is  the  ren>r<l  of  Italian*  in  this  countr  ; 
as  to  work,  citizctT«;hip,  self-support,  crimi. 
temperance,  thrift,  care  for  education,  financi,  1 
ability  ? 

13-  Have  many  It.ilians  f.nken  to  farming?  Do 
they  succeed?    What  sor-  of  farming? 

14.  What  efforts  are  being  made  to  direct  and  di-- 
tribute  the  Italian  immigrant>? 

IV.  What  is  the  Opportunity  of  the  Christian  Chun:: 
Among  Them' 

15.  Do  you  know  f>f  any  specific  effort  to  upLiit 
them  through  Christian  influences? 

16.  Does    this    chapter    make    you    feel    that    i!i 
cliurchcs  can  do  more  for  them  ?    How  ? 


i 


References    for    Advanced    Study.— Chapter    IV 

I.     Further    Study    of    Contrasts   Dctxvccn    Diffcrc;:: 
Types  of  Italians. 

Lord,  et  al:  The  Italian  in  America,  I.  Ill,  V. 
Brandenburg:  Imported  Americans,  IV,  VI,  XII 
Holt:  Undistinguished  Americans,  HI. 

II.    Illiteracy    Among    the    Northern    and    Soulhi-m 
Italians. 

(i)  Its  bearing  on  their  desirability  as  immigrants 
Brandenburg:  Imported  Americans,  IV,  XII, 
XX. 
Hall :  Immigration,  54-58,  80-83. 


Ihe  New  Itii  'lig^ration 


>55 


grants  ' 

r   In-'i 

•untr  ; 

crimt. 

iianci.l 

?   r>> 

id  .li- 

r/iur. 

upliu 
at    t!f 

IV 


(3)  Its  relation  in  the  probaUIc  effect  of  a  rcu.lins 
test  for  admi^^ion. 

Lord,  ct  al;  The  Italian  in   \mcrica.  VIM.  XI 
Hall:  Immigration.  ••''-•-280. 

(^)  Its  tx-aring  on  their  accessibility  tt.  the  gospt-I 
McLanahan:  Our  PeopU-  of  l-oreii,-!!  Speech, 
69-74 
Wood:  Americans  in  Process,  IX. 

Ill      Location    of    Italians      Iftrr    Tlicir    Arrnal    and 

Li-iiiith  of  I  heir  Stuy. 

Brandenburg:     Imported     American ..     II.     XIX 

XXII. 

Lord,  et  al:  The  ItaUan  in  America.  \I.  VII.  IX. 
'V.     7  lie  Itn'invs  in  Xew  Vorl:  City  on  J  State. 

P'viu-'  ts  .iud  (latiKcrs  ari>inR  from  tlieir  presence, 

:■'.)']  .-ff.irts  m:!(li    to  help  them. 

iv.us:   P  ,vv  the  Other  Half  Lives.  V.  XXIV. 

I'nivcrMty    Sett!<inent    Studies.    Vol.    i,    Xumbers 

3  ai:  I  4.  i>sue  J;inuary,  K/Ki 

Reports  of  the  Society  for  Italian  I-  i.nigrant.-.,  17 

Pearl  Street.  New  ^'ork  Citv. 


V. 

.  XII 

utlwrn 


frantv 
,  XII, 


r 

i 

I;: 

t 

I    :  ■ 


I 


«£X> 


Yesterday  the  Slav  was  a  fnufer  immi- 
grant; to-day  he  is  what  the  Ett,i;iish, 
Welsh.  Irish,  and  German  miner  teas  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago— on  the  way  /,, 
becoming  an  American  citizen.  What 
sort  of  a  citizen  he  will  be  will  depend 
ufon  the  influences  brought  to  bear  upon 
him.—V.  J.  Warnc. 


THE  EASTERN'  iy\'ASIOX 


157 


-■■* 


*4  i'. 


¥ 


«-s 


My  people  do  not  live  in  America.  They  live  under- 
neath America.  America  goes  on  over  their  heads.— 
Paul  Tymkciicit,  a  Ruthenian  P-^est. 

"My  people  do  not  love  America.  Why  should  they, 
from  what  they  see  of  it?"  This  is  the  profoundly  sug- 
gestive question  of  a  Ruthenian  Greek-Catholic  priest, 
of  Yonkers,  X.  Y.,  who  says  his  people  do  not  come  in 
contact  with  the  better  classes  of  Americans,  but  d" 
come  in  contact  with  everjone  who  hopes  to  exploit 
them. 

The  subject  of  immigration  is  the  most  far-reaching' 
in  importance  of  all  those  with  which  this  government 
has  to  deal.  The  history  of  the  world  oflFers  no  pre- 
cedent for  our  guidance,  since  no  such  peaceful  invasion 
of  alien  peoples  has  ever  before  occurred.  It  must  have 
great  and  largely  unforeseen  effects  upon  our  form  of 
civilization,  our  social  and  political  institutions,  and, 
above  all,  upon  the  physical,  mental,  and  moral  charac- 
teristics of  our  people.  Can  such  a  subject  be  consi.l- 
ered  too  seriously  or  too  minutely'  I  cannot  think  it 
possible.  The  danger  lies  in  the  opposite  <te«ction.— 
F.  P.  Sargent. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  Slav  immigrant^, 
and  especially  their  descendants,  are  impressionable  and 
a<!aptable;  that  forces  are  at  work  which  have  alreadv 
done  much  for  them,  and  will  do  more  The  results 
of  the  public  schcK.l  arc  sure  though  slow.  The  full- 
grown  individual  1.  .>t  be  l.rought  under  the  influenc- 
of  a  yet  more  powerful  agency,  one  which  makes  also 
for  civilization  and  for  Americanism  in  the  best  sen-c 
— F.  J.  Warne. 


THE  EASTERN  INVASION 


T  EAST  known,  least  liked,  and  least  asstmila-  Mi««ken 
•■-'  ble  of  all  the  alien  races  mijrratiiifr  to  °'''"**"' 
America  are  the  Slavs.  That  expresses  the  gen- 
eral opinion,  based  on  ignorance  and  dislike.  To 
tlie  common  view  they  seem  to  cf/iii^/ine  all  the 
undesirable  elements — low  living,  low  intelli- 
gence, low  morality,  low  capacity,  low  everything, 
including  wages — this  explaining  in  large  meas- 
ure their  presence.  The  very  nafiie  Slav  excites 
prejudice.  If  an  exclusion  act  of  any  kind  were 
to  l>e  passefl  it  would  probably  be  easier  to  aitn  it 
at  the  Slavs  than  any  </ther  class  of  iiTimigrants. 
We  are  now  to  submit  this  common  oi)ini(m  to 
the  test  of  investigation,  and  see  whether  it  is 
warranted  in  fact.  Nowhere  is  rliscriminafion 
based  on  knowledge  more  necessary  than  in  deal 
ing  with  this  Slayic  race  division.  First  U't  u< 
learn  who  the  Slavs  arc.  The  following  taf;1e 
shows  this,  and  also  how  many  of  thern  entered 
our  ports  in  11)05  • 


l^"- in2.4.-?7 

(■wMinnit  iind  Slovenians .t5,104 

LithuaniaM 18X)04 


Servian*.  RirinrUn*,  mmI 

MnnO-netrm* 2,043 

P  ilnirttiMs.  IVisniana,  atid 

Heriegovinianj 2.639 


1.19 


l6o 


Aliens  or  Americans: 


# 


RutheniaiM 14,473       Bohemiang  snd  Moraviani. .   .    U.ToT 

RoumaniaM 7.818        Rumian*  proixr         3 :4., 

Miigjan' 46.030        RiMian  Jews' 92,'3.5.i 

A  Larce  The  Slavs  proper  number  about   125.000.000, 

b'^IT  '"  ''^  '"°^^  ^^^"  °"^  twelfth  of  the  total  population 
of  the  world.    They  have  been  concentrated,  until 
the  recent  mij^ration  began,  in  the  eastern  an. 
larger  part  of  Europe.    They  make  up  the  bulk 
of   Russia,   the  great    Slav   power    (numbering 
about  70.000.000),  and  of  the  Balkan  States,  and 
form  nearly  half  of  the  population  of  Austria- 
Hungary.     The  various   Slavic  languages  and 
dialects  are  closely  related  but  differ  as  do  Ger- 
man and  Swedish,  so  that  the  different  races  can- 
not understand  each  other.2 
The  suva  in       The  Slav  immigration  is  of  comparatively  rc- 
the  Mine.       ^^^^  j^^^     BcioTe  1880  it  was  unnoticeablc.    A 
small  number  of  Bohemians  and  Poles  had  come, 
settling  in  the  larger  cities.     But  suddenly  the 
thousands  began  to  pour  in.    Demand  for  cheap 
labor  in  the  coal  fields  of  Pennsylvania  drew  this 
class,   and   presently   the   American.    Canadian. 
English,  Welsh,  Irish,  Scotch,  and  German  mino- 
workers  found  themselves  being  supplanted  bv 
the  men   from   Austria-Hungary  and   Russia- 
men   who   were  mostly  single  and   alone,   who 

'While  the  Magyars  (or  Hungarians)  are  not  Slavs,  they  have  livfc' 
in  Woso  contact  with  them,  and  for  convenience  may  be  clasM  ' 
in  the  Slavic  divisi.n,  and  the  same  thing  is  true  of  the  Roumani.^n 
and  Russian  Jews  All  these  jieoples  come  fn^m  Russia,  Austn.i 
HunKary.  or  the  Balkan  States,  and  represent  similar  cust.-  ? 
and  Ideas,  althouKh  they  differ  materially  in  character,  as  we  sh  i" 
see. 

'Samuel  McLanahan,  Our  Peoples  of  Foreign  Speech,  34  ff. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


i6i 


n.TjT 

3,74' 
92,3.% 


COUNTRIES  FROM  WHICH  THE  SLAVS  COME 


l62 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Slav 
Domination 


4 

<, 


could  live  on  little,  eat  any  sort  of  food,  wear 
any  kind  of  clothes,  and  sleep  in  a  hut  or  store- 
house, fourteen  in  a  room.    Of  course  the  home 
of  the  English-speaking  miner,  with  its  carpet 
on  the  best  room,  its  pictures  and  comforts,  had 
to  go,  as  did  the  miner  and  his  wife  and  children, 
also  the  school  and  the  churcli — for  how  couM 
these  stay  when  the  Slav,  homeless  and  family- 
less,  could  bunk  in  with  a  crowd  anywhere,  or 
build  himself  a  hillside  hut  out  of  driftwood,  an( 
subsist  on  from  four  to  ten  dollars  a  month.    The 
one  C()ns])icuous  thing  about  the  Slav  was  hU 
ability  to  save  money.  Dr.  W'ame  gives  a  graphic 
and  pathetic  picture  of  the  struggle  caused  b\ 
the  introduction  of  the  Slavs  into  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  investigations  may  profitably  be  studied.' 
The  results  in  Pennsylvania  thus  far  are  the 
reverse  of  satisfactory.     The  cheap  labor  has 
become  dear  in  more  senses  than  one.    Where  in 
1880    the    English  speaking    foreign-born    com- 
posed nearly  ninety-four  per  cent,  of  the  miiic 
workers.  in  1900  they  were  less  than  fifty-two 
per  cent.,  and  to-day  are  much  less  still.     Tlir 
Slavs  dominate  in  the  mines.    Strikes  are  not  Ic- 
frequent,  but  more  difficult  to  control,  and  tlu 
necessity  of  frequent  state  control  by  militia,  tli.' 
riots  and  bloodshed,  mark  the  failure  to  y\meri- 
canize  this  growing  class  of  aliens.     A  strikiti; 
illustration  of  non-assimilation  and  the  attendant 

'F.  J.  Warne,  The  Slav  Invasion,  chap.  VI. 


wear 
store - 
home 
:arpct 
5,  had 
Ulren, 
couM 
imily- 
re,  or 
I,  and 

The 
IS  hi- 
aphic 
;d  b} 
/^ania. 
died.' 
e  the 
■  ha- 
Te  in 
corn- 
mine 
r-t\\o 

The 

t  lev; 

i  the 
I,  the 
neri- 
ikitic 
idaiit 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


»"3 


perils  may  be  found   in   Pennsylvania.     Fortu- 
nately all  the  Slavs  tie  not  {^'o  to  the  mines,  and 
those  who  follow  agriculture  or  trades  aflford  a 
j  pleasanter  stud\.     The  census  of   i<joo  jjavc  a 
^  million  and  a  quarter  of  foreign-horn  Slavs  ami 
^  the  number  has  been  largely  increased.     In  i<p3 
221,000  came,  not  counting  the  67.000  Russian 
and  Roumanian  Jews.     Since  these  peoi)les  arc 
\  all  prolific,  with  an  oversujiply  at  home,  there  is 
every  prospect  that   immigration   will   increase, 
unless  .some  check  is  put  upon  it.    The  Slavs  will 
have  to  be  reckoned  with,  most  assuredly,  as  an 
element  in  our  civilization. 


SLAV  DI8TRIBUTIO.N  IN  THE  UNITED  eTATKS 

The  maps  here  given,  by  the  courtesy  of 
Charities,  show  the  sections  from  which  the  Slavs 
cine  and  how  they  disperse  in  this  country. 


mm 


1^4 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


-* 


i- 


I 


Chiefly 
Unskilled  and 
IlliMrata 


A  Hopeful 
View 


An  analysis  of  the  official  statistics  shows 
that,  with  the  exception  of  the  llohi- 
inians,  these  newest  immigrants  are  mainly 
unskilled,  illiterate  peasants  from  country  di.- 
tricts.  and  with  little  money  in  their  i)ockets  wIkii 
they  land.  Of  the  Bohemians  and  Moraviati> 
forty-four  per  cent,  are  skilled  laborers,  and  oiil\ 
1.50  per  cent,  over  fourteen  are  unable  to  read 
and  write ;  but  of  the  Poles  eighty-five  per  cent. 
are  unskilled,  and  thirty  per  cent,  can  neither  rea.l 
nor  write ;  and  this  represents  the  average.  \\  c 
are  getting  in  an  illiterate  i.ass,  therefore,  and 
the  amount  of  money  they  bring  per  capita  aver- 
ages about  $10.  But  on  this  point  a  writer  sa.\  s, 
speaking  from  a  wide  observation  :* 

"This  does  not  necessarily  mean  that  they  are 
undesirable  immigrants.    The  illiterate,  unsicill 


eii 


immigrant  may  be,  in  fact,  more  desirable  than 
the  better  educated  skilled  laborer,  or  the  still 
better  educated  professional  or  business  man 
There  may  be  a  great  demand  here  for  unskilKM 
labor.  Again,  the  moral  qualities  of  the  untaught 
but  industrious,  simple-minded,  unspoiled  coun- 
tryman may  be  far  more  wholesome  for  tho 
communities  to  which  he  comes  than  those  of  the 
educated,  town-bred,  unsuccessful  business  or 
professional  man,  the  misfit  skilled  laborer,  or  the 
actual  loafer  and  sharper  of  the  cities,  who  conie^ 
over  here  when  home  gets  too  hot  for  him.    As  to 

>Miss  Kate  H.  Claghom,  in  Charities,  for  December.  1004. 


show  > 
Dohi- 

mainly 
ry  (li.- 
s  wIkii 
'avian  ^ 
id  on!) 

0  read 
r  cent, 
sr  rea'i 
J.  \\c 
•e,  anil 

1  avcr- 
r  sa\  s. 

ley  are 
skiUci! 
e  than 
le  still 

mat!  I 
skilK'i 
taught 
coun- 
)r  tlio 
of  the 
;ss  or 
or  tlic 
come- 
As  to 

04. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


'^•5 


illiteracy,  moreover,  the  peasant  is  improving. 
The  mass  of  this  great,  unskilled  lahor  pushes 
P  directly  through  the  great  gateway  of  Xew  York, 
where  unfortunately  so  many  other  races  stop. 
They  go  to  the  eastern,  middle,  and  northern 
states,  mainly  into  our  coal  and  iron  mines,  and 
our  steel  mills,  but  also  to  the  farming  regions, 
where  they  work  patiently  and  thriftily,  first  as 
farm  lahorers,  then  as  owners  of  abandoned 
farming  lands  or  cut-over  timljcr  lands,  reclaim- 
ing and  making  them  fc-tilc  to  the  great  adva:i- 
tage  of  the  markets  they  sui)j)ly." 

Let  us  now  look  at  this  conglomerate  inuii:- 
gration  a  little  more  in  detail,  and  no  longer  class 
these  peoples  indiscriminatelv  as  "barbarian 
Huns." 

/.     The  Bohemians 

We  may  well  begin  with  the  T'.ohcmians,  who    The  c«ch. 
are  among  the  most  skilled,  least  illiterate,  and.    »"«'  **"'" 
to  Protestants,  most  interesting  of  the  Slavs.     In     "'""'^ 
studying  any   group  of   "strangers   within   our 
pates,"  it   is  necrssary  to  know   its  preemigra- 
tion  history.    These  people,  who  call  themselves 
Czechs,  are  a  principal  branch  of  the  Slu  ui.-ni!-. 
and  one  of  the  large  constituents  ot  I'lc  .\ustrj.i- 
Hungarian  empire,  numbering  6.318,6(^7  in  i()(>t. 
At  home  they  are  chiefly  agriculturists.    Tn  k^x) 
there  were   in  this  country  325.000  persotis  <J 
Bohemian  parentage,  of  whom  I56.()r,i  were  t)orn 


i66 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Stormy 


r 


in  Bohemia.  Since  1900  above  50.000  more  hav 
come.  Three  fourths  of  them  all  are  in  the  nort^ 
central  states  of  the  Mississippi  \'alley  wit' 
C  hicago  as  their  fi:reat  center.  Cleveland  ha 
aljout  :  5.000.  New  York  about  the  same  numlK-r 
%vI)iIo  m  agriculture  there  are  in  round  number 
T^ooo  m  Nebraska.  14.000  in  Wisconsin,  ii.o* 
m  Iowa,  and  (),cxx>  in  Texas. 
As    to   their    history    in    the   old    world.    t!i. 


«i 


N.tion.1     p^u^-  ,         -••"-"..      ...     mc     uni     worui.     tilv 

stru„ie    ''"hemians    have   had   such    a   stormy    nationa 
struggle,  and  the  bitterness  of  it  has  so  enterc' 
mto  their  lives,  that  it  is  impossible  rightly  t 
judge  them  apart  f r  5m  it.  It  has  some  instructive 
lessons  for  us.    These  are  the  conditions,  as  Mr 
AanMashek.  himself  a  Bohemian,  states  them: 
"I'or  two  imndred  and  fifty  vcars  they  havn 
been  oppressed  by  a  pitilessly  despotic  rule,     h 
the  Jay  of  their  independence,  before  1620.  tho. 
were    Protestants,   and   the   most   glorious   a.. 
memorable  events  of  their  historv  are  connrcto  ' 
with  their  struggle  for  the  faith.     The  histw 
of  their  Cluirch  is  the  history  of  their  nation   f - 
on  the  «ne  hand  was  Protestantism  and  indepei^ ' 
ence,  on  the  other,  Cath. .  u  ism  and  i^>litical  si 
jection.   For  two  centuries  [Johemia  was  a  bio...' 
]:'o"n,""oV""   ^^^.^^'^■.^'■^""•l  "f   I'rotestaiit  reform.     Under  t!: 
Pr.gue  spiritu  '  and  military  leadership  of  such  men  .' 

Jerome  of  Prague,  John  Muss,  and  Ziska,   t'' 
P.ol.emian^    fought    their   good    fight   and    l.< 

'C!ijrilit's,   for  r)r<emhT,    1Q04. 


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ta 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


167 


After  the  battle  of 


--    ..hite  Mountains,  in  1620. 
national  independence  was  completelv  lost,  and 
Catholicism  was  forcibly  imposed  upon  the  coun- 
try.    All   Protestant   Bibles,   books,  and   songs 
were  burned,  thus  depriving  the  nation  of  a  large 
and  rich  literature.     Those  who  still  clung  to 
their  faith  publicly  were  banished,  their  prop^'ertv 
becoming  forfeited  to  the  state.    After  150  years 
when  Emperor  Joseph  II.  of  Austria  gave  back 
to  the  Protestants  some  measure  of  their  former 
treedom,  many  of  the  churches  were  reestab- 
lished; but  Protestantism  had  lost  much  of  its 
strength.    The  political  revolution  of  1848  led  to 
new  subjugation,  and  emigration  was  the  result 
Large  numbers  left  the  country  in  quest  of  free- 
dom, and  some  of  these  found  their  way  to 
America." 

The  first  Bohemian  settlers  were  of  the  most   F-rmer 
intelligent  and  more  prosperous  classes      Thev   ^'"'*" "" 
went  West,  chiefly  to  Wisconsin,   where  their   '''  ^"' 
farms  are  among  the  finest  in  tn-  state.     In 
Kewaunee  County  they  constitute  over  one  third 
of  the  population,  or  6,000  out  of  17,000.    Thev 
have  developed  into  an  excellent  tvpe  of  Ameri- 
can citizenship,  have  looked  well  after  the  educa- 
tion of  their  children,  many  of  whom  have  gone 
to  college,  and  are  in  every  way  progressive. 
Read  thoughtfully  what  Mr.  Mashek  savs- 

"In  the  country  the  assimilation  of  Bohemian. 
IS  not  a  problem  which  offers  difficulties.    The 


i68 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Easy  Astimi- 
Ution  Through 
Religion 


10 


Protestant 
Crrortuntty 


Freethinkers' 
Society 


public  school  is  everywhere  so  potent  an  Ameri- 
canizer  that  it  alone  is  adequate.  There  is,  how- 
ever, one  other  influence  which  if  brought  to 
bear,  especially  in  the  large  communities,  would 
be  h.^lpful.  /  refer  to  the  Protestant  faith.  For 
the  most  part  Bohemians  conversant  with  their 
history  as  a  people  are  naturally  hostile  to  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  when  the  restraints  which 
held  them  in  their  own  country  are  removed  by 
emigration,  many  of  the  more  enlightened  quietly 
drop  their  allegiance,  and,  through  lack  of  desire 
or  opportunity,  fail  to  ally  themselves  with  any 
other.  So  strong  is  this  non-religious  tendency 
among  the  Bohemians — especially  in  the  cities — 
that  it  has  resulted  in  active  unbelief,  and  hos- 
tility to  Church  influence.  This  spiritual  isolation, 
with  its  resultant  social  separation,  is  doing  great 
harm  in  retarding  assimilation.  Aside  from  this 
matter  of  religion,  the  Bohemian  falls  into  Amer- 
ican customs  with  surprising  readiness." 
'  Thus  a  member  of  this  race  points  out  to 
Protestants  their  opportunity.  Here  is  a  people 
with  inherited  Protestant  tendencies.  They  have 
been  driven  in  Bohemia  by  an  enforced  Roman 
Catholicism  into  antagonism  to  the  Church  as 
they  know  it. 

In  Chicago,  where  over  100,000  of  them 
make  of  that  city  the  third  largest  Bohemian 
center  in  the  world,  they  have  a  strongly  organ- 
ized Freethinkers'  Society,  with  three  hundred 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


169 


branches,  which  issues  an  atheistic  catechism, 
and  has  it  taught  in  its  numerous  Sunday-schools 
as  they  are  called.  But  there  are  thousands  who 
do  not  belong  to  this  cult,  and  wli«^  arc  open  to 
the  gospel.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Bohemians 
in  New  York,  Cleveland,  and  elsewhere  who  have 
not  advanced  to  the  Chicago  infidel  standpoint. 
Their  character  has  not  been  well  understood. 
They  possess  excellent  qualities  for  the  making 
of  good  Americans.  Christianity  in  pure  and 
true  form  is  all  they  need. 

The  Bohemians  are  a  home  people,  social, 
and  fond  of  organizations  of  every  kind. 
Music  is  their  passion,  and  their  clubs,  mutual 
benefit  societies,  and  loan  associations,  success- 
fully run,  show  large  capacity  for  management. 
They  have  forty-two  papers,  seven  of  them  reli- 
gious, two  Protestant.  Their  freethinking  is  not 
all  of  it  by  any  means  of  the  dogmatic  sort  which 
has  its  catechism  of  atheism.  There  is  another 
class,  represenieJ  by  an  old  woman  v;ith  a  broad 
brow  over  which  the  silvery  hair  is  smoothly 
parted,  who  says  to  the  missionary,  "I  have  my 
God  in  my  heart,  I  shall  deal  with  him.  I  do  not 
want  any  priest  to  step  between  us."  That  is  the 
class  which  the  gospel  can  reach  and  ought  to 
reach  speedily. 

About  sevent 
live    in    the 
have  entered  into  various  industries.     In  New 


A  Home  and 

Musical 

People 


e  per  cent,  of  the  Bohemians  where 
northwest.      In    Cleveland    they 


170 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


York  they  are  largely  employed  in  cigar-making, 
at  which  the  women  and  girls  work  under  condi- 
tions not  calcu'.ated  to  inspire  them  with  regard 
for  God  or  man.  The  home  life  cannot  be  what 
it  should  when  the  mothers  are  compelled  to  work 
in  the  factories,  besides  having  all  the  home  cares 
and  work.  The  testimony  of  the  tenement  inspect- 
ors is  that  the  Bohemians  are  perhaps  the  clean- 
est of  the  poor  people  in  the  city,  and  are  strug- 
gling heroically  against  the  pitiful  conditions  of 
the  tenement-houses  in  which  they  are  compelled 
to  exist. 


A  Larg^e 

Element 


//.     The  Poles 

The  Poles  form  one  of  the  oldest  and  largest 
elements  of  the  Slav  immigration.  In  1900  the 
census  gave  668.514  persons  whose  parents  were 
born  in  Poland,  and  of  these  389,510  were  them- 
selves born  there.  Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million 
of  the  latter  came  to  this  country  between  1890 
and  1900,  and  in  the  five  immigration  years  since 
about  350,000  more  arrived.  A  third  of  a  million 
Poles  now  in  America  do  not  understand  English. 
The  Polish  strength  is  indicated  by  the  Polish 
National  Alliance,  with  50.000  members,  and  by 
a  list  of  fifty  newspapers  published  in  the  Polish 
tongue,  four  of  them  dailies,  printed  in  Chicago, 
Buffalo,  and  Milwaukee,  the  largest  centers. 
Religious  "The  hifi^her  classes  of  Poland  were  touched  by 
Tolerance  ^he  pre-Reformatiou  movement  of  Huss  at  Prague, 


The  Eastern  Invas 


sion 


172 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


r 


ii 


Location 


where  they  were  jjencrally  educated.  Reforma- 
tion ideas  did  not  gain  as  great  currency  as  in 
Boliemia,  but  both  Calvin  and  Luther  were  inter- 
ested in  their  progress  in  Poland.  A  Jesuit 
authority  comnlained  that  two  thousand  Roman- 
ist churclios  had  become  Protestant.  A  Union 
Synod  was  fortncd  and  consensus  of  doctrine 
adopted.  Poland  is  described  as  the  most  tolerant 
country  of  Europe  in  the  sixteenth  century.  It 
became  an  asylum  for  the  persecuted  Protestants 
of  other  lands,  notably  the  Bohemian  breihren. 
Later  on,  under  the  influence  of  Protestantism, 
literature  and  education  were  stimulated.  But 
under  succeeding  Swedish  and  Saxon  dynasties, 
and  through  Jesuit  instrumentality,  religious  lib- 
erty and  national  independence  were  lost,  and 
Poland  disappeared  from  the  map  of  Europe. 
As  a  race  the  Poles  boast  such  names  as  Coper- 
nicus the  astronomer,  Kosciusko  the  patriot  war- 
rior, and  Chopin  the  composer."* 

The  distribution  in  America  in  1904  was  as 
follows :  Illinois,  123,887,  of  whom  107.669  were 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Chicago  stockyards ;  Penn- 
sylvania, 118,203,  mainly  in  the  anthracite  coal 
regions  and  about  Pittsburg,  with  11.000  in  Phil- 
adelphia; New  York,  115,046,  50,000  of  them  in 
New  York  City  and  35,000  in  Buffalo ;  Wisconsin, 
70,000,  36,000  in  ^Milwaukee;  Michigan,  59,075, 
26,869  in  Detroit;  Ohio,  31,136,  15,000  in  Cleve- 

'Samuel  McLanahan,  Our  Peoples  of  Foreign  Speech,  45. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


i7i 


land  and  o.ooo  in  Toledo;  in  Massacliusctts. 
Minnesota,  and  New  Jersey,  between  20.000  and 
30.000  each  ;  in  Connecticut  and  Imliana,  over 
10,000  each;  and  in  smaller  nuinhers  widely  dis- 
tributed. Their  preference  for  the  lar<;jer  cities  is 
shown  by  these  fijjures.  Recent  imuiij^rants  are 
going  more  into  the  New  England  .States. 
Already  there  is  a  second  generation  of  them  in 
the  cities  and  the  fanning  country  (jf  the  Middle 
West,  and  they  have  their  own  teachers  and  doc- 
tors. In  Xew  England  they  are  si)reading  in  the 
factory  towns,  and  Chicopee.  Massachusetts,  has 
six  thousand  of  them ;  while  in  the  tobacco  belt 
of  Connecticut  they  furnish  a  majority  of  the 
farm  hands.  Ten  years  ago  Hartford  had  only 
three  or  four  bundled  Polish  families;  to-dav 
there  is  a  parish  of  a  thousand  people,  and  thev 
have  built  a  Catholic  church  and  given  $20,000 
toward  a  school. 

Slavs,    the    Poles    who   come    independent  in 
,        f     . ,  Spirit;  Open  to 

poor,   and   of  the  peasant  the  Gospel 
hem  are  illiterate.  They 
vith  the  Lithuanians  and 

.^r  liberty,  they  clash  also 
Avith  the  Catholic  authorities,  going  so  far  even 
as  organized  rebellion  to  obtain  control  of  their 
church  properties  and  freedom  in  the  choice  of 
priests.  Tliey  have  a  superstitious  dread  of 
Protestantism,  which  has  been  misrepresented  to 
them  as  extremely  difificult.    "Polish  priests  about 


Like  most  of  the 
here   are  common'-, 
class;  about  one  " 
are  clannish,  ati     .. 
other  races.     L 


174 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I' 

V. 


A  Farming; 
People 


Pittsburg:  are  said  to  boast  of  the  number  of 
Bibles,  distributed  by  Protestants,  which  they 
gather  from  the  people  aid  bum."  If  once 
Protestantism  gets  a  grip  upon  them,  rapid 
defection  from  ecclesiastical  tyranny  will  follow. 
Dr.  n.  K.  Carroll  figures  that  the  Polish  Cath- 
olics as  distinct  from  Roman  Catholics,  have 
forty-three  churches  and  42.859  communicants, 
with  thirty-three  priests — this  representing  the 
extent  of  revolt  against  the  Romish  Church.  It 
must  be  granted  that  comparatively  little  has  been 
done  to  reach  this  people,  and  it  is  not  strange 
that  as  yet  the  number  of  Protestant  Poles  is 
small.  It  takcv*  a  larger  and  more  imposing  move- 
ment to  make  a  definite  impression  «pon  those 
accustomed  to  the  size  and  strength  of  the 
Catholic  organizations. 

///.    The  Slovaks 

The  Slovaks  of  northern  Hungary  number 
about  two  millions,  and  are  closel}-  akin  to  the 
Bohemians  and  Moravians.  According  to  Mr. 
Rovinanck.  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Slovak  Dail\\ 
they  constitute  the  trunk  of  the  great  Slavonic 
national  tree,  from  which  have  branched  so  many 
of  the  Slav  people,  at  the  head  of  whom  now 
stands  the  powerful  Russian  empire.  From  pre- 
historic time  they  were  celebrated  as  a  peaceful, 
industrious  people,  fond  of  agricultural  and  pas- 
toral life.    The  immigration  has  been  from  the 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


'/3 


agricultural  class,  antl  at  first  settleiu  nt  was 
made  in  the  niininp  regions  of  I'cnnsvlvania. 
Farniinff  had  its  inherited  attractions,  however, 
and  there  are  hundreds  of  Slovak  fanners  in 
Pennsylvania.  Connecticut,  and  Ohio;  while  in 
Mnnesota,  Arkansas,  \irpinia.  and  A  ■i>.onsin 
there  are  colonies  of  them,  where  for  many  miles 
on  every  side  the  land  is  entirely  in  their  pos- 
session. Kossuth  was  a  Slovak,  to  their  lasting 
pride.  Over  loo.ooo  of  them  have  come  to 
America  since  1900.  one  fourth  of  them  illiter- 
ates. They  had  little  opportunity  to  be  otherwise 
at  home,  but  since  coming  here  their  advance- 
ment educationally  has  been  marked. 

""   lis  is  due,"  says  Mr.  Rovinanek,  "largely  to   Reiigiout  in 

.itensely  religious  spirit  which  prevails  among  *'"''* 
le  Slavic  peoples,  and  to  the  fact  that  here  they 
have  been  able  to  combine  schools  with  their 
churches."  The  total  number  now  in  the  country 
is  estimated  at  250,000,  o£  whom  150.000  are 
in  Pennsylvania.  Two  thirds  of  the  immigrants 
are  men. 

Th.y  live  usually  in  very  poor  and  crowded  induwrui 
quarters,  one  family  having  metimes  from  ^"^'^^'^ 
fifteen  to  twenty  boarders,  and  ider  conditions 
far  from  cleanly  or  sanitary.  There  are  nearlv 
as  many  newspapers  in  the  United  States  in  the 
Slovak  language  as  in  Hungary,  with  a  much 
larger  total  circulation.  This  press  has  stimu- 
lated industrial  and  business  enterprises  in  the 


176 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


'¥ 


{: 


Organization* 


Slovak  communities.  There  are  numerous  small 
mercantile  establishments.  In  Phila(leli)hia,  Xcw 
York,  and  Chicago,  wire  and  tinware  factories 
established  with  Slovak  capital  and  conducted 
with  Slovak  labor  are  securing  the  cream  of  this 
trade  in  the  country.  For  centuries  the  tinware 
of  Europe  was  made  largely  by  tlie  Slovaks. 
They  have  a  high  position  also  for  electrical 
designs  and  other  skilled  work. 

They  are  a  great  people  for  organization.  The 
National  Slavonic  Society  was  organized  in 
Pittsburg  in  i8f/3,  with  250  members;  it  now  has 
20.000  active  members  and  512  lodges.  It  is 
primarily  a  beneficial  organization,  but  has  done 
a  valuable  work  in  educating  its  members  and 
inducing  them  to  become  American  citizens.  The 
society  requires  its  members,  after  a  reasonable 
time,  to  obtain  naturalization  papers  and  thu.? 
promotes  Americanization.  It  has  paid  out  nearly 
a  million  dollars  in  death  benefits,  and  much  more 
in  sick  benefits ;  has  aided  students  in  this  coun- 
try and  Hungary,  and  national  literary  and  patri- 
o«:'c  w^orkers  as  well,  besides  coming  to  the  rescue 
of  Slavs  in  Hungary  persecuted  by  tne  govern- 
ment. Many  other  societies  have  sprung  from 
tliis  parent  organization,  including  a  Presby- 
terian Slavistic  Union,  and  hundreds  of  literary, 
benevolent,  and  political  '-'  -bs,  so  that  there  are 
between  100,000  and  i2^,o'X)  organized  Slovaks 
in  the  United  States. 


The  Eastern  Itivasiot. 


^17 


IV.     The  Magyars  or  IIun;j;anans 

The  Magyars  belong  properly  in  a  division  by  Conqu«ror«  of 
llicmselves.  These  people,  vlio  are  llunu^arians  ""*"^ 
projier,  do  not  class  strictly  with  the  (lenuans 
and  Slavs  ot  Hungary.  They  drove  out  their 
Slavic  preilecessors  or  subjugated  them  in  the 
ninth  century,  and  became  masters  of  the  Danu- 
hian  plains.  Roman  L'atliulicism  became  the  state 
religion  about  the  year  i(X)o,  but  during  the 
Reformation  period  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
types  of  Protestantism  gained  a  large  following 
and  were  granted  liberty.  This  was  ufterwanl 
denied  them,  and  blood \'  struggles  followed,  as  in 
I'ohemia.  Protestants  were  again  placed  on  ecpial 
tooting  with  Roman  Catholics  in  1791.  The 
Magyars  number  over  eight  millions  and  com- 
l)rise  a  little  more  than  one  half  the  population 
of  Hungary. 

There  are  at  present  between  250,000  and  Good  and  Bad 
300.000  Hungarians  in  America.  Ihey  have  a  *2"»"**** 
fair  degree  of  education,  are  generally  re!)uted 
to  be  honest,  and  as  compared  with  the  Slavs 
(with  whom  they  are  commonly  confused)  are 
more  intelligent  and  less  imlustrious,  "more  agile 
in  limb  and  temper."  ]\Iany  are  addicted  to 
ilrink  and  quarreling.  It  is  noticeable  that  the 
Protestants  are  morally  and  intellectually 
superior  to  the  Catholics.  The  bulk  of  the  Mag- 
yars (eighty-six  per  cent.)  are  in  the  Pennsyl- 


178 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


1* 


f 

t 


vania  mining  regions,  in  New  York,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  Ohio.  At  home  chiefly  agriculturists, 
here  they  work  mostly  in  mines,  mills,  and  fac- 
tories. The  Roman  Catholic  Hungarians  are  said 
to  lapse  easily  from  the  Church,  going  into  indif- 
ferentism  and  nothingism.  This  gives  opening 
for  Protestant  mission  work. 
The  City  A  Writer  who  has  made  special  investigations. 
Colony  in  the  line  of  social  settlement  studies,^  says  that 
eighty  per  cent,  of  the  Magyars  arriving  in  New 
York  go  at  once  to  the  farms  and  mines.  The 
New  York  colony  numbers  50,000  to  6o,«oo,  in- 
cluding the  Hungarian  Jews,  who  are  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  the  Gentiles.  The  life  of 
their  quarter  is  one  continuous  whirl  of  excite- 
ment. Pleasure  seems  the  chief  end.  The  cafe 
is  their  club  room.  Intensely  social,  fond  of  con- 
viviality and  gaiety,  bright,  polished,  graceful, 
the  Magyar  soon  learns  English,  and  adapts  him- 
self to  his  new  surroundings.  The  newspaper, 
literary  society,  and  charitable  organization  are 
the  only  institutions  he  cares  to  support.  Pride, 
independence,  fertility  of  resource,  lack  of  per- 
severance, love  of  ease  rather  than  of  a  strenuous 
life — these  are  his  qualities.  Tailoring  is  the 
chief  occupation  in  New  York,  though  Hunga- 
rians are  also  furriers,  workers  in  hotels  and  res- 
taurants and  various  kinds  of  light  factories,  and 
some  are  shopkeepers  and  merchants.     The:: 

'Louis  H.  Pick,  in  Charitits,  for  December,  1904. 


'"*w/ 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


179 


who  speak  from  close  knowledge  call  them  excel- 
lent "citizen-material."  In  one  of  these  typical 
East  Side  Hungarian  cafes,  as  a  guest  of  the 
Hungarian  Republican  Club,  President  Roose- 
velt spent  the  evening  and  made  a  noteworthy 
address  on  February  14,  1905.  Among  other 
things,  he  told  them  that  "Americanism  is  not 
a  matter  of  birthplace  or  race,  but  of  the  spirit 
that  is  in  the  man." 

V.     The  Lithnamans  and  Letts 

The  Lithuanians  in  Russia  number  about  two  wine  and  miu 
millions.     They  began  to  come  in  1868,  driven   ^"'"" 
out  by  famine  at  home,  and  the  first  comers  went 
to  the  northern  Pennsylvania  mines.    At  present 
tiierc  are  about  200,000  in  America;  50,000  of 
them  in  the  anthracite  coal  fields  of  Pennsylvania. 
25.000  in  the  soft  coal  mines  of  western  Penn- 
sylvania and  West  Virginia ;  10,000  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Baltimore;  15.000  in  New  York;  25.- 
000  in  New  England ;  mainly  in  Boston.  Worces- 
ter.  Brockton,   Hartford,  and   Bridgeport:   10.- 
000  in  Ohio  and  Michigan ;  50,000  in  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin ;  while  several  thousand  are  scattered 
over   the    western    states.     Though    nearly   all 
raised  on  farms,  they  do  not  take  to  farming  here, 
nor  do  they  like  open  air  work,  preferring  the 
mines,  factories,  foundries,  and  closed  shops.    In 
the  cities  many  of  them  are  tailors,  and  many  are 
found  in  packing-houses,  steel  plants,  hat  and 


i8o 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


'■^ 


!5 


shoe  factories,  and  mills.  Their  chief  curse  is 
intemperance,  and  they  are  not  of  strong  charac- 
ter, having  little  of  the  quality  of  leadership. 
Generally  they  are  devout  Roman  Catholics; 
when  not  they  are  apt  to  become  freethinkers, 
and  a  freethinkers'  alliance  has  been  formed 
among  them.  They  are  described  as  commonly 
peaceable,  well  dressed,  and  good-natured.  Their 
children  are  mostly  in  public  schools.  Little 
Protestant  work  has  been  done  among  them. 
Less  Favor-  The  Lettish  people,  like  the  Lithuanians,  their 
epute  ueighijQrs  and  kinsmen,  are  among  the  oldest 
races  of  Europe.  They  are  clearly  distinguished 
from  the  southern  Slavs,  being  tall  and  fair,  like 
the  Swede,  in  complexion.  The  Letts  at  home 
number  about  a  million  and  a  half.  Since  1900 
nearly  35,000  of  them  have  come  to  America, 
settling  mostly  in  the  anthracite  coal  regions. 
They  are  also  found  in  New  York,  Massachu- 
setts, Illinois,  Connecticut,  and  New  Jersey. 
About  one  half  are  illiterate,  and  in  the  coal  fields 
both  Lithuanians  and  Letts  have  a  poor  reputa- 
tion. In  Boston,  however,  there  is  an  encourag- 
ing mission  work  among  the  Lettish  people. 


■prom  a  Poor 
Environment 


VI.     The  Ruthenians 

The  Ruthenians,  or  LTcrainians,  called  also  the 
Little  Russians,  at  home  occupy  the  southern 
part  of  Russia,  eastern  and  southwestern  Galicia, 
and    part    of    Bukovina,    in    Austria-Hungary. 


t 


i 


"I 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


i8i 


Their  number  in  Europe  is  computed  at  over 
30,000,000.  They  are  darker  and  smaller  than 
the  typical  Slav.  Roman  Catholic  in  religion, 
they  are  generally  poor,  illiterate,  backward  in 
civilization,  and  oppressed.  Immigration  began 
perhaps  thirty  years  ago,  but  not  in  appreciable 
numbers  until  recent  years.  In  the  four  years 
ending  in  June,  1903,  there  were  26,496  arrivals, 
two  thirds  men,  nearly  all  unskilled  laborers,  and 
one  half  unable  to  read  or  write.  The  number  in 
1905  was  14,473.  Pennsylvania  is  their  common 
destination.  Estimates  as  to  their  present  num- 
bers in  the  country  vary  from  160,000  to  350,000, 
the  latter  figures  given  by  Ivan  Ardan,  editor  of 
their  paper,  Svohoda,  at  Scranton.  He  says  there 
are  60,000  more  in  Canada,  and  as  many  in  Brazil 
and  other  South  American  republics,  or  about 
half  a  million  altogether  in  uie  new  world. 
Probably  there  are  90,000  of  them  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  are  said  to  be  accessible  to  mission- 
ary influences,  but  their  ignorance  and  crowded 
conditions  of  living  make  work  difficult. 

About  nine  tenths  of  the  Ruthenians  here  are 
laborers,  chiefly  in  the  mines;  and  about  one 
tenth  are  farniers.  The  young  women  work  in 
shops  and  factories,  but  prefer  domestic  service, 
and  are  efficient.  The  people  are  very  saving, 
and  scarcely  one  but  has  from  $50  to  $200  at 
least  saved  and  put  away  in  some  hidden  corner 
or  in  a  bank.    They  buy  lots  and  build  houses,  or 


Mostly 
Laborers 


1 82 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Greek 
Catholics 


P 


If 

I 

'a. 

i'- 

t. 


Hopeful 
Features 


take  up  farming.  They  have  beneficial  societies 
for  sickness,  injury,  and  death,  including  wife 
and  mother  as  well  as  husband  and  father.  Mr. 
Ardan  says  Ruthenian  men  and  women  drink. 
"farmers  and  Protestants  being  exceptions." 
What  a  notable  exception  and  testimony  that  is. 

Superstitious,  devout,  attached  to  their  churches 
the  majority  are  Greek  Catholics,  with  a  few 
Protestants  from  Russian  Ukraine,  where  Prot- 
estants are  bitterly  persecuted.  There  are  io8 
Ruthenian  churches,  composed  of  eighty  Greek 
Catholic,  twenty-six  Greek  Orthodox  (Russian 
State  Church),  and  two  Protestant,  besides  sev- 
eral Protestant  missons. 

The  people  are  as  a  rule  vc-y  eager  to 
leatn  both  in  their  native  and  the  English  lan- 
guage. I'hey  have  their  adult  schools  for  this 
purpose.  Their  children  go  to  the  public  schools. 
There  are  four  Ruthenian  weeklies  and  one 
monthly  published  in  this  country,  and  some 
books.  Education  is  prompted  by  reading  circles, 
lectures,  and  societies  for  self-improvement.  The 
race  has  a  fine  physique,  with  great  physical 
endurance.  Individuality  is  more  marked  in  it 
than  in  many  Slavonic  races,  and  assimilation 
is  comparati\elv  rapid.  In  this  coun  ry  they 
rapidly  wake  up  to  a  new  life  and  promise  to 
make  a  worthy  addition  to  citizenship.  Such 
missionary  opportunities  should  move  our  Chris- 
tian churches  to  active  efforts. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


183 


y/I.  Other  Nationalities 
We  can  only  mention  the  remaining  nationali- 
ties of  the  Slavic  group.  The  Croatians  and  Dal- 
matians, unable  to  make  a  living  at  home,  are 
fleeing  from  starvation  and  mismanagement,  and 
seeking  work  in  America.  Croatia  is  a  kingdom 
of  Austri.  Hungary.  Dalmatia  is  the  seacoast 
province  of  Austria. 

The    Slovenians    come    from    the    province^ 
northwest  of  Croatia.     The  three  nationalities 
have     probably     sent     between     200,000     and 
300,000   persons   to   America.     Dalmatians   are 
oyster  fishermen  at  New  Orleans,  make  staves  in 
Mississippi,  are  wine  dealers  in  San  Francisco, 
and  vine  grov,rers  and  miners  in  other  parts  of 
California.    The  Slovenians  are  chiefly  found  in 
the  Pennsylvania  mines  and  other  mining  regions. 
The  Croatians  are  mostly  in  the  same  regions  and 
work,  although  in  New  York  there  are  about 
15.000  of  them  engaged  as  longshoremen  and 
mechanics,  and  a  small  number  are  farmers  out 
West.    They  are  Roman  Catholic,  largely  illiter- 
ate and  unskilled.     The  Catholics  do  little   for 
them,   and    the    Protestant   denominations   have 
undertaken  no  specif'.;  work  in  their  behalf. 

The  Bosnians,  Herzegovinians,  Bulgarians, 
Servians,  and  Montenegrins  are  just  beginning 
to  come  in  appreciable  numbers.  They  represent 
much  the  same  home  conditions  as  the  nationali- 


Croatiant  and 
Dalmatian* 


Sloveniana 


A  Needy 
Group 


184 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


> 


A  Hopeful 
View 


ties  mentioned  more  in  detail.  Catholicism, 
Greek  or  Roman,  has  cast  them  pretty  much  in 
the  same  mold.  Ignorant,  semi-civilized  many 
of  them,  they  have  everything  to  get  and  learn  in 
their  new  home,  and  afford  still  larger  oppor- 
tunity for  Protestant  Christianity  in  its  mighty 
work  of  making  and  keeping  America  the  land 
of  righteousness  and  progress. 

An  interesting  series  of  articles  appeared  v.\ 
1906  in  a  magazine  devoted  to  social  betterment.' 
the  writer  having  spent  a  year  in  studying  condi- 
tions in  the  Slav  districts  of  Austria-Hungary. 
Living  among  the  people,  she  has  become  pro- 
foundly interested  in  them,  and  takes  a  most 
hopeful  view  of  their  possibilities  in  America. 
She  says  the  life  from  which  the  peasants  mostly 
come  to  us  is  the  old  peasant  life,  but  a  little 
way  removed  from  feudalism  and  serfdom.  Each 
little  village  is  a  tiny  world  in  itself,  with  its 
own  traditions  and  ways,  its  own  dress,  perhaps 
even  its  own  dialect.  The  amazing  gift  of  tlic 
Slav  for  color  and  music  permeates  the  whole 
home  life  with  poetry.  The  Slav  immigrants 
have  the  virtues  and  faults  of  their  primitive 
world.  They  come  to  America  to  make  money. 
The  majority  come  with  intent  to  earn  money  to 
take  back  home,  rather  than  with  expectation  to 
settle  here  permanently.  Unenterprising,  unlet- 
tered, they  are  at  the  same  time  hard},  tlirif:;. 

'Miss  Emily  Dalch,  "The  Slavs  at  Home,"iii  Charities  ar.d  Com- 


mons. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


185 


and  shrewd,  honest  and  pious.  They  are  un- 
doubtedly highly  endowed  with  gifts  of  imagina- 
tion and  artistic  expression  for  which  in  their 
American  conditions  they  find  little  or  no  outlet. 

And  here  again  is  the  point  we  are  constantly  Newwity  of 
having  impressed  upon  us.  What  the  immigrant  EnviVonmert 
shall  become,  for  good  or  ill,  depends  chiefly 
upon  what  conditions  are  made  for  him.  and 
whether  he  is  given  a  chance  to  express  his  best 
self  in  this  country.  Grinding  monopoly,  harsh 
treatment,  prejudice  that  drives  into  clannishness 
and  race  hatred — these  will  make  of  the  Slavs  a 
peril.  .\  genuinely  Oiristian  environment  and 
treatment  will  find  them  receptive  and  ready  for 
Americanization  through  evangelization. 


VIII.     The  Riissian  Jezvs 

In  some  respects  the  most  interesting  immi-  An  interesting 
crrants  from  the  Slav  countries  arc  the  Jews  from  °"*"p 
Russia  and  Roumania.  The  German  Jew  and 
the  Russian  Jew  must  not  be  confounded;  they 
are  as  distinct  as  any  two  races  in  the  entire 
immigrant  group.  The  German  Jew  came  to 
.\nicrica  to  make  more  money,  and  is  making  it. 
Tlie  Russian  Jew,  who  comes  from  persecution, 
is  rigidly  orthodox,  and  regards  the  commercial 
German  class  as  apostate.  He  forms  a  pictur- 
esque, vigorous,  siii  generis  member  of  the  alien 
nrocession. 


i86 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Kapidly 


I 

I 


Where  *hey 
Come  from 


Occupation 


Since  the  year  1881  not  less  than  750,000 
Jewish  immigrants  have  arrived  at  the  port  of 
New  York  alone.  On  Manhattan  Island  more 
than  every  fourth  person  }ou  meet  is  a  Jew.  The 
Jews  admitted  at  Ellis  Island  during  the  past  five 
years  outnumbered  all  the  communicants  in  the 
r  otestant  churches  in  Greater  New  York. 

Of  the  106,000  Jews  admitted  in  IQ04,  a  large 
proportion  of  whom  settled  in  New  York,  77,000 
came  from  the  Russian  Empire,  20.000  from 
Austria-Hungary,  and  6,000  from  Roumania. 
Jewish  immigrants  from  eastern  Europe  are  all 
one  people. 

They  show  a  larger  proportion  w-ith  skilled, 
professional  and  commercial  training  and 
experience  than  do  any  of  the  other  newer  immi- 
grants except  the  Finns.  Nearly  twenty  per 
cent,  of  the  Hebrew  immigrants  are  tailors,  nearly 
five  per  cent,  mechanics,  merchants,  or  clerks, 
and  al:  ost  one  per  cent,  follow  the  professions. 
Of  the  remainder  a  very  considerable  proportion, 
though  not  a  majority,  are  skilled  workers  such 
as  bakers,  tobacco  workers,  carpenters,  painters, 
and  butchers.  The  garment  trades,  to  which  they 
find  themselves  adapted,  and  for  which  New 
York  is  the  world  center,  engages  perhaps  100,- 
000  of  them,  men,  women,  and  children,  many 
of  them  in  the  sweat-shops,  which  they  created. 
For  the  first  time  in  their  history,  the  Jews 
have  built  up  a  great  industrial  class,  this  being 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


187 


an  American  development.  According  to  a  Jew- 
ish authority,'  the  "unspeakable  evils  of  the  tene- 
ments and  sweat-shops"  of  the  ghetto  are  under- 
mining their  physical  and  moral  health. 

The  newly  arrived  Russian  Jew  is  kept  in  the  i^ocatton 
ghetto  of  the  larger  cities— New  York.  Chicago. 
Philadelphia,  and  Boston— not  only  by  his  pov- 
erty and  ignorance  but  by  his  orthodoxy.  In  this 
district  the  rules  of  his  religion  can  more  cer- 
tainly be  followed.  Here  can  be  found  the  lawful 
food,  here  the  orthodox  places  of  worship,  here 
neighbors  and  friends  can  be  visited  within  "a 
sabbath  day's  journey."  The  young  people, 
however,  rapidly  shake  off  such  trammels,  and  in 
the  endeavor  to  be  like  /vmericans  urge  their 
parents  to  move  away  from  this  "foreign"  dis- 
trict. When  they  succeed,  the  Americanizing 
process  may  be  considered  well  under  way.  Con- 
cerning the  religious  change  that  comes  over  the 
young  Jew  after  he  reaches  this  country,  a  writer 
says  :2 

"Many  a  young  man,  who  was  firm  in  his  reli-  become 
gious  convictions  in  his  native  village,  having  iVrnjultum 
heard  of  the  religions  laxity  prevalent  in  America, 
had  fully  made  up  his  mind  not  to  be  misled  by 
the  temptation  and  allurements  of  the  free  coun- 
try, but  he  succumbed  in  his  struggle  and  re- 
nounced his  Judaism  when  first  submitting  his 
chin  to  the  barber's  razor,  at  the  entreaties  and 

'Lcc  Frankol.  in  The  Russiat:  Tnr  in  the  United  Slates    63 
^Julius  H.  Greenstone,  in  The  Russian  Jew  in  the  Unite.'.  States,  i$S. 


i88 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


i 


i 


\mbitiout  for 
Wealth  and 
Education 


persuasions  of  his  Americanized  frien<ls  and  rela- 
tives. Religion  then  appeared  to  him  not  only 
distinct  from  life,  but  antagonistic  to  it,  and  since 
it  was  life,  a  free,  full,  undisturbed  life  he  sought 
in  coming  here,  he  felt  compelled  to  divorce  him- 
self from  all  the  religious  ties  that  had  hitherto 
encompassed  him.  Thus  it  is  that  the  immigrant 
Jev  'sh  youth,  even  those  faithful  and  loyal  to  the 
institutions  of  old  and  who  desired  to  conduct 
their  lives  in  accordance  with  the  precepts  of 
their  religion,  became  estranged  from  Judaism 
and  suffered  themselves  to  be  swept  along  b;,-  the 
tide.  Thus  the  immigrant  Jew  in  America  has 
frequently  become  callous  and  indifferent,  and 
sometimes  cynical  and  antagonistic  to  everything 
pertaining  to  Judaism."  While  they  are  thus 
lost  to  Judaism  they  are  not  won  to  Christian- 
ity, but  they  ought  to  be.  The  older  people 
become  reconciled  with  difficulty  to  this  irreli- 
gious attitude  and  "the  old  Jewess  still  curses 
Columbus  for  his  great  transgression  in  discover- 
ing America,  where  her  children  have  lost  their 
religion." 

The  Russian  Jews  usually  come  in  great  pov- 
erty, but  do  not  stay  poor  very  long.  In  New 
York's  East  Side  many  tenements  in  Jewish  quar- 
ters are  owned  by  persons  who  formerly  lived  in 
crowded  corners  of  others  like  them ;  and  from 
this  population  comes  many  a  Broadway  mer- 
chant, and  professional  men  in  p'er<-y.    It  is  cer- 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


189 


»K 


tain  that  the  adult  Ilehrcw  immij;^rant  has  definite 
aspirations  toward  social,  economic,  and  ctluca- 
tional  advancement.  The  poorest  amonjj  them 
will  make  all  possible  sacrifices  to  keep  his  chil- 
dren in  school;  an<l  one  of  the  most  striking 
social  phenomena  in  Xew  York  city  is  the  way 
in  which  the  Jews  have  taken  possession  01  the 
public  schools,  in  the  highest  za  well  as  lowest 
grades.  The  City  College  is  practically  filled  with 
Jewish  pupils.  In  the  lower  schools  Jewish  chil- 
dren are  the  delight  of  their  teachers  for  clever- 
ness at  their  books,  obedience,  and  general  good 
conduct ;  and  the  vacation  schools,  night  schools, 
social  settlements,  libraries,  bathing  places,  parks, 
and  playgrounfls  of  the  East  Side  are  fairly 
hesieg**'  with  Jewish  children.  Jewish  boys  are 
specially  ambitious  to  enter  professions  or  go 
into  business.  For  example,  the  head  of  one 
of  the  largest  institutions  of  the  East  Side  tells 
a  story  of  a  long  interview  with  a  class  of  boys  in 
which  all  spoke  of  the  work  they  intended  to  do. 
r.aw,  medicine,  journalism,  and  teaching  came 
first.  There  were  even  some  who  intended  to 
become  engineers.  A  smaller  number  were  going 
into  business,  and  not  one  intended  to  learn  any 
manual  trade.  Some  were  going  in  for  music, 
and  occasionally  one  is  found  who  intends  to 
make  his  living  by  art.  But  above  all,  the  young 
Jew  is  ambitious  and  intends  to  rise.  This  is  true 
in  all  cities. 


IQO 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Worthy 
Qualities 


IT 


IS 

Hi. 


Good  Citizent, 
but  Poor 
Americans 


Tlie  Strong  good  qualities  of  the  Jews  are 
absence  of  the  drink  evil,  love  of  home,  desire  to 
preserve  the  purity  of  the  family,  and  remarkable 
eagerness  for  self-improvement.  They  easily 
adapt  themselves  to  the  new  environment  and 
assimilate  the  customs  and  language  of  the  new 
country.  This  leads  to  the  danger  of  readily 
falling  in  with  the  vices  found  in  the  tenement 
districts — the  children  showing  this  in  the  large 
numbers  of  them  that  appear  in  the  Juvenile 
Court.  The  remedy  i-;  removal,  and  this  the  Jew- 
ish parents  seek  as  soon  as  they  are  able. 

With  decent  environment  and  a  fair  chance, 
the  Russian  Jew  promises  to  become  a  good  citi- 
zen, intellectually  keen,  commercially  shrewd, 
professionally  bound  to  shine.  But  that  he  will 
ever,  except  in  rare  instances,  imbibe  the  real 
American  spirit  or  understand  the  American 
ideals  is  a  question.  At  the  same  time,  the  Jews 
are  believers  in  the  principle  of  democracy,  and 
in  case  of  an  issue  arising  on  the  separation  of 
Church  and  State,  would  be  found  standing  with 
American  Protestantism  for  the  religious  liberties 
of  the  American  people. 


The  Eastern  Invasion 


191 


QUESTIONS  FOR  CHAPTER  V 

Aim  :  To  Consider  the  Desirability  of  the  Slavs  as 
Immigrants. 


f. 


II. 


The  Slavic  People  as  a  Whole. 

1.  What  nationalities  are  generally  included  under 
the  term  Slavs?  Are  they  numerous  in  pop- 
ulation?   Are  they  strictly  of  one  race? 

2.  What  grounds  are  there  to  justify  popular 
prejudice  against  them?  Or  to  show  it  to  be 
ill   founded? 

3.  When  did  they  begin  to  come  in  large  num- 
bers? 

4-  Where  have  they  largely  settled,  and  with 
what  results? 

Racial  Divisions  of  the  Slavic  Immigrants. 

S.  What  can  you  tell  about  the  Bohemians,  as  to 
their  religious  history,  political  sufferings,  and 
coming  to  America?  What  are  their  condi- 
tions here?  Their  accessibility?  Their  loca- 
tion? 

Tell  about  the  Poles  in  the  same  way. 
Tell  about  the  Slovaks  in  tlie  same  way. 
Tell  about  the  Magyars  in  the  same  way. 
Who  and  what  are  the  Lithuanians? 
Wiio  and  what  arc  the  Ruthcnians? 


6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 
10. 


III. 


Slavic  Elements  of  Strength  and  American  Out- 
look. 

II.  Mention  some  encouraging  features  with  refer- 
ence to  the  above-named  and  other  Slavs. 

12.*  If  you  had  been  born  a  Slav  in  Europe,  would 
you  be  likely  to  prefer  America  to  Europe? 
Protestantism  to  Roman  Catholicism?  The 
countrj-  or  the  city? 


192 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


IV.    Social,  Moral,  and  Religious  Aspects  of  the  Jew- 
ish  and   Slavic   Population. 

13.  How  many  Jews  are  there  in  New  York  City? 

14.  What  keeps   the  new  arrivals   in  the   larger 
cities? 

15.  Are  they  religious,  quick  to  learn,  temperate? 

16.  Mention    some    form   of    Christian   work   for 
Slavs  or  Jews  about  which  you  know. 


•»,  4 


ii 


I 


References  for  Advanced  Study. — Chapter  V 

I.    Further   Study    as    to   Race    Origin    and    Inter- 
relationship of  the  Shvs. 
Warne:  The  Slav  I'vasion,  III. 
McLanahan:  Our  People  of  Foreign  Speech,  IV. 
II.    National  Conditions  in  Europe  which  the  Slavs 
Seek  to  Escape. 
Hall :    Immigration,    60-65. 

III.  Social  and  Moral  Effects  Produced  by  the  Slav 
Invasion  of  the  Anthracite  Regions. 

Warne:  The  Slav  Invasion,  IV,  VII. 

IV.  Factors  in  Slavic  History  and  Conditions  Favoring 
and  Hindering  the  Access  of  the  Gospel. 
McLanahan :  Our  People  of  Foreign  Speech,  34-58. 
Charities  n    !  Commons,  issues   1905-06. 

V.    Conditions  Among  Russian  Jews. 

Statements   of   Jewish    authors    as    to   conditions 

among  Russian  Jews  in  their  native  lands  and  in 

America. 

Bernheimer:    The    Russian    Jew    in    the    United 

States,  I  (B),  IV  (A),  VI  (A). 


Slav 


The  city  is  the  nerve  center  of  our  civ- 
ilization. It  is  also  the  storm  center. 
The  city  has  a  peculiar  attraction  for  the 
immigrant.  Here  is  heaped  the  social 
dynamite;  here  the  dangerous  elements 
are  multiplied  and  concentered. — Josiah 
Strong. 


VI 


THE  FOREIGN  PERIL  OF  THE  CITY 


iitions 
ind  in 


193 


The  city  is  the  most  difficult  and  perplexing  problem 
of  modern  times.~-Francis  Licbcr. 

We  must  save  the  city  if  we  would  save  the  nation 
Municipal  government  and  city  evangelization  together 
constitute  the  distinctive  problem  of  the  city,  for  thi- 
generation  at  least.— /oj/a/j  Strong. 

Talk  of  Dante's  Hell,  and  all  the  horrors  and  cruelties 
of  the  torture  chamber  of  the  lost!  The  man  who 
walks  with  open  eyes  and  bleeding  heart  through  tlie 
shambles  of  our  civilization  needs  no  such  fantastic 
images  of  the  poet  to  teach  him  horror.— G^M^rcj/  Booth. 

With  the  influx  of  a  large  foreign  population  into  the 
great  cities,  there  have  come  also  foreign  customs  ami 
institutions,  laxity  and  license— those  phases  of  evi! 
which  are  the  most  insidious  foes  of  the  pu-ity  and 
strength  of  a  people.  The  slums  of  our  large  cities  are 
but  the  stagnant  pools  of  illiteracy,  vice,  pauperism, 
and  crime,  annually  fed  by  this  floodtide  of  immigra- 
tion.—i?.  M.  Atchison. 

You  can  kill  a  man  with  a  tenement  as  easily  as  with 
an  ax. — Jacob  Riis. 

Our  foreign  colonies  are  to  a  large  extent  in  the  citie> 
of  our  own  country.  To  live  in  one  of  these  foreign 
communities  is  actually  to  live  on  foreign  soil.  The 
thoughts,  feelings,  and  traditions  which  belong  to  the 
mental  life  of  the  colony  are  often  entirely  alien  to  an 
American. — Robert  Hunter. 

The  vastness  of  the  problem  of  the  city  slum,  and  the 
impossibility,  even  with  unlimited  resources  of  men  a!;t.' 
money,  of  permanently  raising  the  standards  of  liviiis 
of  many  of  our  immigrants  as  long  as  they  arc  crowdeii 
together,  and  as  long  as  the  stream  of  newer  immigrant- 
pours  into  these  same  slums,  has  nrturally  forced  itself 
upon  the  minds  of  thinking  persons.— Robert  D.  U\jiJ 


VI 


THE  FOREIGX  PERIL  OF  THE  CITY 

/.     The  Evils  of  Environment 
S  is  the  city,  so  will  the  nation  be.    The  ten-   Tendency 


dencics  all  seem  to  be  toward  steady  con- 
centration in  great  centers.  The  evils  of  conges- 
tion do  not  deter  the  thronging  multitudes.  The 
attractions  of  the  city  are  irresistible,  even  to 
those  -'ho  exist  in  the  most  wretched  conditions. 
The  tenement  districts  baffle  description,  yet  noth- 
ing is  more  difficult  tJian  to  get  their  miserable 
occupants  to  leave  their  fetid  and  squalid  sur- 
roundings for  the  country.  To  the  immigrants 
the  city  is  a  magnet.  Here  they  find  colonies  of 
their  own  people,  and  prize  companionship  more 
than  comfort.  "Folks  is  more  company  than 
stumps,"  as  the  old  woman  in  the  slums  said  to 
Dr.  Schauffler.  In  the  great  cities  the  immi- 
grants are  massed,  and  this  constitutes  a  most 
perplexing  problem.  If  tens  of  thousands  of 
foreigners  could  somehow  be  gotten  out  of 
Xew  York,  Boston,  Chicago,  and  other  cities, 
and  be  distributed  where  they  are  needed  and 
could  find  work  and  homes,  immigration  would 
cause  far  less  anxiety.    Rut  when  the  immigrant 

195 


Toward  the 
Cities 


196 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Peril!  Due  to 
Environment 


^ 


\ 
i 


prefers  New  York  or  Chicago,  what  authorit\ 
shall  remove  him  to  Louisiana  or  Oklahoma; 
The  foreigner  is  in  the  city ;  he  will  chiefly  sta\ 
there ;  and  the  question  is  what  can  be  done  tc 
improve  his  city  environment;  for  the  perils  tc 
which  we  refer  are  primarily  due  not  to  the  for- 
eigner himself  but  to  the  evil  and  vice-breeding 
conditions  in  which  he  has  to  exist.  These  imperil 
him  and  make  him  a  peril  in  turn.  The  over- 
crowded tenements  and  slums,  the  infection  of 
long-entrenched  corruption,  the  absence  of  light, 
fresh  air,  and  playgrounds  for  the  children,  the 
unsanitary  conditions  and  exorbitant  rents,  the 
political  heelers  teaching  civic  corruption,  the 
saloons  with  tlieir  attendant  temptations  to  vice 
and  crime,  the  fraudulent  naturalization — these 
work  together  upon  the  immigrant,  for  his  undo 
ing  and  thus  to  the  detriment  of  the  nation. 
When  we  permit  such  an  environment  to  exist, 
and  practically  force  the  immigrant  into  it  be- 
cause we  do  not  want  him  for  a  next-door  neigli- 
bor,  we  can  hardly  condemn  him  for  forming 
foreign  colonies  which  maintain  foreign  custoi::-- 
and  are  impervious  to  American  influences.  Ii 
has  too  long  been  the  common  practice  to  la* 
everything  to  the  foreigner.  Would  it  not  b? 
fairer  and  more  Christian  to  distribute  the  blame, 
and  assume  that  part  of  it  which  belongs  to  11?. 
In  the  study  of  the  facts  contained  in  this  chapter. 
put  yourself  persistently  in  the  place  of  the  imtr.i- 


ithority 
ihoma  ? 
fly  stay 
lone  to 
erils  to 
he  for- 
reeding 
imperil 
e  over- 
tion  of 
i  light, 
en,  the 
Its,  the 
Dn,  the 
to  vice 
— these 
i  undo- 
nation. 
5  exist, 
I  it  bo- 

neigii- 
orniiiic: 
usto:-:- 
:cs.     It 

to  la; 
not  !;;■ 

blame, 
;  to  ^!^ 
haptor, 
;  imtr.i- 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City  ujy 

grant,  suddenly  introduced  into  the  conditions 
here  pictured,  and  ask  yourself  what  you  would 
probably  be  and  become  in  like  circun. stances. 

How  the  other  half  lives  is  not  the  only  mys- 
tery. How  little  the  so-called  upper-ten  know 
how  the  lower-ninety  live.  And  how  little  vou 
and  I,  who  are  fortunate  to  count  ourselves  in 
the  next  upper-twenty,  perhaps,  know  how  the 
under-seventy  exist  and  think  and  do.  If  onI\- 
the  more  fortunate  thirty  per  cent,  knew  of  the 
exact  conditions  under  which  a  large  proportion 
of  men,  women,  and  children  carry  on  the  pitiful 
struggle  for  mere  existence,  there  would  be  an 
irresistible  demand  for  betterment.  Every  Chris- 
tian ought  to  know  the  wrongs  of  our  civiliza- 
tion, in  order  that  he  may  help  to  right  them, 
ihis  glimpse  beneath  the  surface  of  the  city 
should  stir  us  out  of  comfortable  complacency 
and  give  birth  in  us  to  the  impulse  that  leads  to 
settlement  and  city  mission  work,  and  to  civic 
reform  movements.  The  young  men  and  women 
■of  America  must  create  a  public  sentiment  that 
will  demolish  the  slums,  and  erect  in  their  places 
model  tenements;  that  will  tear  down  the  rook- 
eries, root  out  the  saloons  and  dens  of  vice,  and 
provide  the  children  w./n  playgrounds  and 
breathing  space.  And  this  work  will  be  directly 
in  the  line  of  Americanizing  and  evangelizing  the 
immigrants,  for  they  are  chiefly  the  occupants 
and  victims  of  the  tenements  and  the  slums. 


A  Call  for 

Reform 


198 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Vaaiahlnr 
AmtrlcanUin 


a 


I 


A  Jewish  City 


.An  Italian 
City 


New  York  is  a  city  in  Americc  1:1  is  hardl 
an  American  city.  Nor  is  any  other  of  our  gre: 
cities,  except  perhaps  Philadelphia.  Boston  is  a 
Irish  city,  Chicago  is  a  German-Scandinaviar 
Polish  city,  Saint  Louis  is  a  German  city,  an 
New  York  is  a  Hebrew-German-Irish-Italiar 
Bohemian-Hungarian  city—a  cosmopolitan  rac 
conglomeration.  Eighteen  languages  are  spokei 
in  a  single  block.  In  Public  School  No.  29  n 
less  than  twenty-six  nationalities  are  represented 
This  indicates  the  complicated  problem. 

New  York  is  the  chief  Jewish  capital.  Of  thi 
760.000  Jews  on  Manhattan,  about  450,000  ari 
Russian,  and  they  overcrowd  the  East  Sid( 
ghetto.  In  that  quarter  the  signs  are  in  Hebrew 
the  streets  are  markets,  the  shops  are  European 
the  men,  women,  and  children  speak  in  Yiddish 
and  all  faces  bear  the  foreign  and  Hebrew  mark 
plainly  upon  them. 

Go  on  a  little  further  and  you  find  that  you 
are  in  Little  Italy,  quite  distinct  from  Jew'rv. 
but  not  less  foreign.  Here  the  names  on  the  signs 
are  Italian,  and  the  atmosphere  is  redolent  with 
the  fumes  of  Italy.  The  hurdy-gurdy  vies  with 
the  push-cart,  the  streets  are  full  of  children  and 
women,  and  you  are  as  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  You  would  not  be  in  a  more  distinctively 
Italian  section  if  you  were  by  magic  transplanted 
to  Naples  or  Genoa. 

Nor   is    it   simply    the    East    Side    in   lower 


s  hardl 
ur  grea: 
on  is  ar. 
inavian- 
ity,  and 
-Italian- 
tan  race 
:  spoken 
►.  29  no 
esented 

Of  the 
000  are 
St  Side 
lebrew 
ropean, 
Yiddish, 
IV  mark 

lat  you 
Jewry, 
le  sign? 
It  with 
is  with 
en  and 
strange 
ictivcly 
planted 


low 


.•er 


1^ 


n 


u- 


i 


V 


I; 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  Cit\ 


199 


New  York  that  is  so  manifestly  foreign.  Go  APoMigncity 
where  you  will  on  Manhattan  Island  and 
you  will  see  few  names  on  business  signs 
that  do  not  betray  their  foreign  derivation. 
Two  out  of  every  three  persons  you  meet  will 
be  foreign.  You  will  see  the  Italian  gangs  clean- 
ing the  streets,  the  Irish  will  control  the  motor 
of  your  trolley-car  and  collect  your  fares,  the 
policeman  will  be  Irish  or  German,  the  waiters 
where  you  dine  will  be  French  or  German,  Italian 
or  English,  the  clerks  in  the  vast  majority  rf  the 
shopping  places  will  be  foreign,  the  people  you 
meet  will  constantly  remind  you  of  the  rarity  of 
the  native  American  stock.  You  are  ready  to 
believe  the  statement  that  there  are  in  New  York 
more  persons  of  German  descent  than  of  native 
descent,  and  more  Germans  than  in  any  city  of 
Germany  except  Berlin.  Here  are  nearly  twice 
as  mnny  Irish  as  in  Dublin,  about  as  many  Jews 
as  in  Warsaw,  and  more  Italians  than  in  Naples 
or  Venice.  In  government,  in  sentiment,  in  prac- 
tice, as  in  population  (thirty-seven  per  cent,  for- 
eign-bom and  eighty  per  cent,  of  foreign  birth  or 
parentage),  the  metropolis  is  predominantly  for- 
eign, and  in  elections  the  foreign  vote,  shrewdly 
manipulated  for  the  most  part,  controls.  Nor  is 
this  true  of  New  York  alone.  In  thirty-three  of 
our  largest  cities  the  foreign  population  is  larger 
than  the  native ;  in  Milwaukee  and  Fall  River  the 
foreign  percentage  rises  as  high  as  eighxy-five 


'30O 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Failur*  in  City 
Governix.   it    ,< 


it 
I 


Where  the 
Newcomers 
First  Go 


per  cent.  In  all  these  cities  the  foreign  colonics 
are  as  distinct  and  practically  as  isolated  socially 
as  though  they  weie  in  Russia  or  I'oland,  Italy 
or  Hungary.  Foreign  in  language,  customs, 
habits,  and  institutions,  these  colonies  are  sepa- 
rated from  each  other,  as  well  as  from  the  Ameri- 
can population,  by  race,  customs,  and  religion. 

To  believe  that  this  makes  no  particular  differ- 
ence so  far  as  the  development  of  our  national 
life  is  concerned  is  to  shut  one's  eyes  to  obvious- 
facts.  As  such  an  impartial  and  intelligent 
student  of  our  institut'ons  as  Mr.  James  Brycc 
has  pointed  out,  the  conspicuous  failure  of  dem- 
ocracy in  America  thus  far  is  seen  in  the  bad 
government  of  our  great  cities.  And  it  is  in  these 
centers  that  the  mass  of  the  immigrants  leani 
their  first  and  often  last  lessons  of  American  life. 

The  strong  tendency  of  immigrants  is  to  settle 
in  or  near  the  ports  of  entry.  Where  in  the  great 
cities  do  these  newcomers  find  a  dwelling,'  p"  •>  >■} 
What  will  their  first  lessons  in  American  life  be? 
If  we  deal  largely  with  New  York,  it  is  simpl  • 
because  here  are  the  typical  conditions  and  here 
tlie  larger  proportion  of  arrivals.  Once  admitted 
at  Ellis  Island,  the  alien  is  free  to  go  where  lij 
will;  or  rather,  where  he  can,  for  his  place  of 
residence  is  restricted,  after  all.  If  he  is  an 
Italian,  he  will  naturally  and  almost  of  necessity 
go  to  one  of  the  Little  Italics;  if  a  Jew,  to  tlie 
ghetto  of  the  East  Side ;  if  a  Bohemian,  to  Little 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         20 1 

Bohemia ;  and  so  on.  In  other  words,  he  will  go, 
naturally  and  almost  inevitably,  to  the  colonies 
which  tend  to  perpetuate  race  customs  and  •  reju- 
dices,  and  to  prevent  assimilation.  Worse  yet, 
these  colonies  are  in  the  tenement  and  slum  dis- 
tricts, the  last  environment  of  all  conceivable  in 
which  this  raw  material  of  American  citizenship 
should  be  placed. 

//.     Tcitcmcnt-Housc  Life 

To  those  who  have  not  made  personal  investi- 
gation, the  present  conditions,  in  spite  of  laws 
and  efforts  to  ameliorate  the  worst  evils,  are  well 
nigh  unbelievable.  The  cellar  population,  the 
blind  alloy  i)opulation,  the  swarming  masses  in 
buildings  tliat  are  little  better  than  rat-traps,  the 
herding  of  whole  families  in  single  rooms,  in 
which  the  miserable  beings  sleep,  eat,  cook,  and 
make  clothing  for  contractors,  or  cigars  that 
would  never  go  into  men's  mouths  if  the  men 
saw  where  they  were  made — these  things  seem 
almost  impossible  in  a  civilized  and  Christian 
land.  It  is  horrible  to  be  obliged  to  think  of  the 
human  misery  and  hopelessness  and  grind  to 
which  hundreds  of  thousands  are  subjected  in  the 
city  of  New  York  day  in  and  out,  without  rest 
or  change.  It  is  no  wonder  that  criminals  and 
degenerates  come  from  these  districts;  it  is  a 
marvel,  rather,  that  so  few  result,  and  that  so 
much  of  human  kindness  and  goodness  exist  in 


Vice-BrMdlag 
Condition* 


202 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I 


sp  vi  of  crushing  conditions.    There  is  a  bright 
_.  well  as  dark  side  even  to  the  most  disgraceful 
districts;  but  there  is  no  denying  that  the  dark 
vastly  predominates,  and  that  the  struggle  for 
righteousness  is  too  hard  for  the  average  human 
being.    Nearly  everything  is  against  the  peasant 
immigrant  thrust  into  the  throng  which  has  no 
welcome  for  him,  no  decent  room,  and  yet  from 
which  he  has  little  chance  to  get  away.     He  is 
commonly  cleaner  morally  when  he  lands  than 
after  six  months  of  the  life  here.     Why  should 
he  not  be?     What  has   American   Christianity 
done  to  safeguard  or  help  him? 
Immigrants       The  existence  of  the  tenement-house  evils,  it 
Responsible   '""^t  be  bome  in  mind,  is  chargeable  primarily 
to  the  owner  and  landlord,  not  to  the  foreign 
occupant.    The  landlords  are  especially  to  blame 
for  the  ill  consequences.    The  immigrant  cannot 
dictate  terms  or  conditions.    He  has  to  go  where 
he  can.    The  prices  charged  for  rent  are  exorbi- 
tant, and  should  secure  decency  and  healthful 
quarters.    No  property  is  so  remunerative.    This 
rent  money  is  literally  blood  money  in  thousands 
of  instances,  and   yet  every  effort  to   improve 
things  is  bitterly  fought.    Why  should  not  social- 
ism and  anarchism  grow  in  such  environment? 
Of  course  many  of  the  immigrants  are  familiar 
with  poor  surroundings  and  do  not  apparent  ^ 
object  to  dirt  and  crowding.     But  that  does  not 
make  these  conditions  less  perilous  to  American 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City  203 

life.  Self-respect  has  a  hard  strugj^Ic  for  sur- 
vival in  these  sections,  and  if  the  immigrant  does 
not  possess  or  loses  that,  he  is  of  the  undesirable 
class.  Mr.  Robert  Hunter  mal-^s  ti  .;  stiitement 
that  no  other  city  in  the  world  '  as  50  many  ''lark 
and  windovvless  rooms,  or  s  >  'iian}-  pf  -sons 
crowded  on  the  acre,  or  so  many  iainiiit.,  deprived 
of  light  and  air  as  Xew  York.  He  says  there  are 
36o,ocx)  dark  rooms  in  Greater  New  York,  And 
these  are  almost  entirely  occupied  by  the  foreign- 
ers. But  unsanitary  conditions  prevail  also  in  all 
the  cities,  large  and  small,  and  especially  in  the 
mine  and  mill  and  factory  towns,  wherever  large 
masses  of  the  poorest  workers  live. 

Concerning  possible  legislation  to  correct  these  Leg.i  Reme- 
city  evils  of  environment,  Mr.  Sargent  says :  *'"•  P""*"* 
"So  far  as  the  overcrowding  in  city  tenements 
is  concerned,  municipal  ordinances  in  our  large 
cities  prescribing  the  amount  of  space  which  ra- 
pacious landlords  should,  under  penalties  suf- 
ficiently heavy  to  enforce  obedience,  be  required 
to  give  each  tenant,  would  go  far  toward  attain- 
ing the  object  in  view.  Whether  such  a  plan 
could  be  brought  into  existence  through  the 
efiforts  of  our  general  government,  or  whether  the 
Congress  could  itself  legislate  directly,  upon  sani- 
tary and  moral  grounds,  against  the  notorious 
practice  of  housing  aliens  with  less  regard  for 
health  and  comfort  than  is  shown  in  placing  brute 
animals  in  pens,  the  Bureau  is  unprepared  to  say. 


204 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


1*^ 

t 

I 

V 


It  is,  however,  convinced  that  no  feature  of  the 
immigration  question  so  insistently  demands  pub- 
lic attention  and  eflFective  action.    The  evil  to  be 
removed  is  one  that  is  steadily  and  rapidly  on  the 
increase,  and  its  removal  will  strike  at  the  root 
of   fraudulent   elections,    poverty,    disease,   an^ 
crime  in  our  large  cities,  and  on  the  other  hand 
largely  supply  that  increasing  demand  for  labor 
to  develop  the  natural  resources  of  our  country." i 
Little  Italy       Not  to  draw  the  picture  all   in  the  darker 
shades,  let  us  look  at  the  best  type  of  Italian  tene- 
ment life.    We  are  not  left  to  guesswork  in  the 
matter.      Settlement    workers   and    students   of 
social  questions  are  actually  living  in  the  tene- 
ment and  slum  sections,  so  as  to  know  by  experi- 
ence and  not  hearsay.    One  of  these  investiga- 
tors,   Mrs.    Lillian    W.    Betts,   author    of   two 
enlightening  books,2  has  lived  for  a  year  in  one 
of  the  most  crowded  tenements  in  one  of  the 
most  densely  populated  sections  of  the  Italian 
quarter.    We  condense  some  of  her  statements, 
which  reveal  the  foreign  life  of  to-day  in  New 
York's  Little  Italy,  with  its  400,000  souls. 

"A  year's  residence  in  an  Italian  tenement 
taught  me  first  of  all  the  isolation  of  a  foreign 
quarter ;  how  completely  cut  off  one  may  be  from 
everything  that  makes  New  York  New  York. 
The  necessities  of  life  can  be  bought  without 
leaving  the  square  that  is  your  home.     After  a 

JCommissioner-General's  Report  for  iqos,  p.  58 

'The  Leaven  of  a  Great  City,  and  The  Story  of  an  East  Side  Family. 


Immigrant 
laolation 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         205 


little  it  occasioned  no  surprise  to  meet  grand- 
parents whose  own  chiklren  were  born  in  New 
York,  who  had  never  crossed  to  the  east  side  of 
the  Bowery,  never  seen  Broadway,  nor  ever  been 
south  of  Houston  Street.  There  was  no  reason 
why  they  should  go.  Every  interest  in  their  life 
centered  within  four  blocks.  I  went  with  a 
neighbor  to  Saint  Vincent's  tlospital,  where  her 
husband  had  been  taken.  I  had  to  hold  her  hand 
in  the  cars,  she  was  so  terrified.  .She  had  lived 
sixteen  years  in  this  ward  and  never  been  on  a 
street-car  before.  Of  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  besides  the  parents,  in  this  coun- 
try fifteen  years,  none  spoke  English  but  the 
}Oungest,  born  here,  and  she  indifferently.  Lit- 
tle Italy  was  all  of  America  they  knew,  and  of 
curiosity  they  had  none. 

"The  house  in  which  we  lived  was  built  for   Children 
twenty-eight  families  and   '"  upied  by  fifty-six.    in"^"!^" 
One  man  who  had  been  .    country  twenty- 

eight  years  could  not  speak  understand  a  word 
of  English.  Nothing  but  compulsion  made  his 
children  use  Italian,  and  the  result  was  pathetic. 
The  eldest  child  was  an  enthusiastic  ^..inerican, 
and  the  two  civilizations  were  always  at  war. 
This  boy  knew  more  of  American  history,  its 
heroes  and  poetry,  than  anyone  '  his  age  I  ever 
met.  This  boy  had  never  been  five  blocks  from 
the  house  in  which  we  lived.  He  removed  his 
hat  and  shoes  when  he  went  to  bed  in  winter ;  in 


206 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Bvila  of 
Overcrowding 


V 


9 


I. 


summer  he  took  oflF  his  coat.  A  brother  an.i 
two  sisters  shared  the  foldmg  bed  with  him.  Hi> 
father  hired  the  three  rooms  and  sublet  to  a  man 
with  a  wife  and  three  children.  The  women 
quarreled  all  the  time,  but  worked  in  the  same 
room,  finishing  trous-rs  and  earning  about  forty- 
five  cents  a  day  each. 

"How  do  they  live?    One  widow,  with  three 
in  her  own  family,  took  nine  men  boarders  in  her 
three  rooms.    A  nephew  and  his  wife  also  kept 
house  there,  the  rent  being  $i8  a  month.    An- 
other neighbor,  whose  Tamily  consisted  of  four 
adults  and  two  children,  had  seveu  lodgerj  ot 
boarders  at  one  time.     These  men  owned  mat- 
tresses, rolled  up  by  day,  spread  on  the  floor  at 
night.     One  of  them  had  a  bride  coming  from 
Italy.     Two   men   with    their   mattresses   were 
ejected  and  space  made  for  the  ornate  brass  and 
green  beuaiead.    The  wedding  was  the  occasion 
of  great  rejoicing.    Next  day  the  bride  was  put 
to  work  sewing  'pants.'    At  the  end  of  a  month 
I  found  she  had  not  left  those  rooms  from  the 
moment  she  entered  them,  and  that  she  worked, 
Sundays  included,  fourteen  hours  a  day.     She 
was  a  mere  child,  at  that.    The  Italian  woman  is 
not  a  good  housekeeper,  but  she  is  a  homemaker ; 
she  does  not  fret ;  dirt,  disorder,  noise,  company, 
never  disturb  her.     She  must  share  everything 
with  those  about  her.    She  cooks  or.v.  meal  a  da- 
and  that  at  night.     Pot  or  pan  may  be  placed 


Thi   Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         207 

in  the  middle  of  the  table  and  each  may  help  him- 
self from  it,  but  the  food  is  what  her  husband 
wants. 

Together  they  will  wash  the  dishes  or  he  will   F".™"/! 
take  the  baby  out.    The  mother,  who  has  sewed  ^**"'"""«"* 
all  day,  will  wash  till  midnight,  while  the  husband 
sits  dozing,  smoking,  talking.    But  he  hangs  out 
the  clothes.     They  work  together,  these  Italian 
husbands  and  wives.    Their  wants  are  the  barren 
necessaries   of   life;   shelter,    food,    clothing   to 
cover   nakedness.      The    children's    clothes    are 
washed  when  they  go  to  bed.     Life  is  reduced 
to  its  lowest  terms.     They  can  move  as  silently 
as  do  the  Arabs  and  do  so  in  the  night  watches. 
But  they  are  rarely  penniless ;  they  have  a  little 
fund  always  in  the  bank.    They  put  their  young 
children  in  institutions  from  weaning-time  until 
they  are  old  enough  to  work,  then  bring  them 
home  to  swell  the  family  income.     Recently  a 
father,  whose  children  had  thus  been  cared  for 
by  the  state,  bought  a  three-story  tenement.  This 
is  typical  thrift.    There  was  never  a  day  when  all 
the    children    of    school    age    were    in    school. 
School  was  a  prison  house  to  most  of  them. 
There   was   not   room    for   them,   even   if  they 
wanted  to  go. 

"The  streets  in  v/hich  the  Italians  live  are  the   City  Negico 
most  neglected.    It  is  claimed  that  cleanliness  is 
impossible  where  the  Italian  lives.    The  truth  is 
that  preparation  for  cleanliness  In  our  foreign 


208 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Possibilities  of 
Uplifting 


Sources  of 
Uepvdation 


colonies  is  wholly  inadequate.  The  police  despise 
the  Italian  except  for  his  voting  power.    He  feels 
the  contempt,  but  with  the  wisdom  of  his  race 
he  keeps  his  crimes  foreign,  and  defies  this  de- 
partment more  successfully  than  the  public  gen- 
erally knows.    He  is  a  peaceable  citizen  in  spite 
of  the  peculiar  race  crimes  which  startle  the  pub- 
lic.    The  criminals  are  as  one  to  a  thousand  of 
these  people.    On  Sundays  watch  these  colonies. 
The  streets  are  literally  packed  with  crowds  from 
house  line  to  house  line,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see, 
but  not  a  policeman  in  sight,  nor  occasion  for 
one.     Laughter,  song,  discussion,  exchange  of 
epithet,  but  no  disturbance.     They  mind  their 
own  business  as  no  other  nation,  and  carry  it  to 
the    point    of    crime    when    they    protect    the 
criminal."^ 

This  is  testimony  directly  from  life  and  has 
especial  value.  It  reveals  the  difficulties,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  possibilities,  of  reaching  and 
Americanizing  these  immigrants,  who  are  better 
than  their  surroundings,  and  promising  if  prop- 
erly cared  for. 

The  impression  that  steadily  deepens  with 
observation  and  study  is  that  of  the  evil  and 
degrading  surroundings.  Not  only  are  there  the 
evil  moral  influences  of  overcrowding,  but  also 
the  contact  with  elements  of  population  already 
deteriorated  by  a  generation  of  tenement  house 

Wnwtrsity  Settlement  Studies,  January,  i<>o6. 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         20 ) 

life.  The  fresh  arrivals  are  thrown  into  contact 
with  the  corrupt  remnants  of  Irish  immigration 
which  now  make  up  the  beggars,  drunkards, 
thugs,  and  thieves  of  those  quarters.  The  results 
can  easily  be  predicted.  The  Italian  laboring 
population  is  temperate  when  it  comes  to  this 
country ;  but  lunler  the  evil  conditions  and  influ- 
ences of  the  tenement  district  disorderly  resorts 
have  been  opened,  and  drinking  and  other  vices 
are  spreading.  The  Hebrews  show  tendencies  to 
vices  from  which  formerly  they  were  free.  The 
law  does  not  protect  these  immigrants,  and  it  is 
cliarged  that  the  city  permits  every  kind  of 
inducement  for  the  extension  of  immorality, 
drunkenness,  and  crime.  Thus  the  immigrant  is 
likely  to  deteriorate  and  degenerate  in  the  process 
of  Americanization,  instead  of  becoming  better 
in  this  new  world.  He  has  indeed  little  chance. 
If  he  does  not  become  a  pauper  or  criminal  or 
drunkard,  it  will  be  because  he  is  superior  to  his 
environment. 


///.    The  Szv  eat -shop  Peril 

An  immigrant  peril  is  the  sweat-shop  labor  An  Awfui 
which  this  class  performs.  "Sweating"  is  the 
system  of  sub-contract  wherein  the  work  is  let 
out  to  contractors  to  be  done  in  small  shops  or 
at  home.  According  to  the  Illinois  Bureau  of 
Labor  Statistics,  "in  practice  sweating  consists  of 
the  farming  out  by  competing  manufacturers  to 


210 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Strikinr 
Example 


competing  contractors  of  the  material  for  gar- 
ments, which  in  turn  is  distributed  among  com- 
peting men  and  women  to  be  made  up."     This 
system  is  opposed  to  the  factory  system,  where 
the  manufacturer  employs  his  own  workmen,  sees 
the  goods  made,  and  knows  the  conditions.    The 
sweating  system  is  one  of  the  inicjuities  of  com- 
mercial greed,  and  the  helpless  foreigner  of  cer- 
tain  classes   is   its   victim.     The   contractor   or 
sweater  in  our  cities  is  an  organizer  and  employer 
of  inmiigrants.     Plis  success  depends  upon  get- 
ting the  cheapest  help,  and  life  is  of  no  account 
to  him,  nor  apparently  to  the  man  above  him. 
The  clothing  may  be  made  in  foul  and  damp  and 
consumption  or  fever-infested  cellars  and  tene- 
metit-styes,  by  men,  women  and  children  sick  or 
uncleanly,  but  the  only  care  of  the  sweater  is  that 
it   be   made   cheaply   and   thus   his    returns   be 
secured.    It  is  a  standing  reproach  to  our  Chris- 
tian civilization  that  the  sweating  system  and  the 
slums  are  still  existing  sores  in  American  cen- 
ters of  population.     So   far  the  law  has  been 
unable  to  control  or  check  greed,  and  the  plague 
spots  grow  worse.    Plere  is  a  typical  case,  taken 
from  the  report  of  the  Industrial  Commission  : 

"A  Polish  Jew  in  Chicago,  at  a  time  when  verv 
few  of  the  Poles  were  tailors,  opened  a  shop  in  a 
Polish  neighborhood.  Ke  lost  money  during  the 
time  he  was  teaching  the  people  the  trade,  but 
finally  was  a  gainer.    Before  he  opened  the  shop 


i 


'•  i 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City 


21 


Impcrtatioa 


he  studied  the  neighborhood :  he  found  the  very 
poorest  quarters  wlvere  most  of  the  immigrant 
Poles  lived.  He  took  no  one  to  work  except  the 
newly  arrived  Polish  women  and  girls.  The 
more  holpless  and  dependent  they  were,  the  more 
sure  of  getting  work  from  him.  In  speaking 
about  his  plans  he  said:  'It  will  take  these  girls 
years  to  learn  English  and  to  learn  how  to  go 
about  and  find  work.  In  that  way  I  will  be  able 
to  get  their  labor  very  cheap.'  His  theory 
turned  out  to  be  practical.  He  has  since  built 
several  tenement-houses." 

The  cheap  tailor  business  is  divided  among  the  a  Portico 
Italians,  Russians,  Poles,  and  Swedes,  Germans  """"*-*'- 
and  Bohemians.  The  women  and  children  are 
made  to  work,  and  hours  are  not  carefully 
counted.  Long  work,  poor  food,  poor  light,  foul 
air,  bad  sanitation— all  make  this  kind  of  life  far 
worse  than  any  life  which  the  immigrants  knew 
in  Europe.  Better  physical  starvation  there  than 
the  mental  and  spiritual  blight  of  these  modern 
conditic  here.  That  so  much  of  hopeful 
humanity  is  found  in  these  unwholesome  and  con- 
gested wards  proves  the  quality  worth  saving 
and  elevating. 

Here  is  an  illustration  of  the  resolute  spirit 
which  conditions  cannot  crush.  A  young  Polish 
girl  was  brought  by  her  widowed  mother  to 
America,  in  hope  of  bettering  their  condition. 
The  mother   died  soon  afterward,   leaving  the 


Story  of  a 

Sweat  shop 
Girl 


212 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


i 


Her  Own 
Story 


orphan  dependent.  Then  canic  the  disappoint- 
ments, one  after  anotlier,  ami  finally,  the  almost 
inevitable  result  in  such  cases,  the  fall  into 
the  slums  and  the  sweat-shops.  p.y  hard 
work  six  da>s  in  the  week,  fourteen  or  more 
hours  a  day,  this  jjirl  of  tender  age  could  make 
$4  a  week !  She  had  to  get  up  at  half  past  five 
every  morning  and  ma'-ce  herself  a  cup  of  coffee, 
which  with  a  bit  of  bread  and  sometimes  fruit 
made  her  breakfast.    Listen  to  her  story : 

"The  machines  go  like  mad  all  day,  because  the 
faster  you  work  the  more  money  you  get.    Some- 
times in  my  haste  the  finger  gets  caugiit  and  the 
needle  goes  right  through  it.    We  all  have  acci- 
dents like  that.    Sometimes  a  finger  has  to  come 
off.   .    .    .   For  the  last  two  winters  I  have  been 
going  to  night  school.     I  have  learned  reading, 
writing,  and  arithmetic.    I  can  read  quite  well  in 
English  now,  and  I  look  at  the  newspapers  ever 
day.    I  am  going  back  to  night  schocl  again  tliis 
winter.     Some  of  the  women   in  trv  closr,  are 
more  than  forty  years  of  age.    Like  me,  they  did 
not  have  a  chance  to  learn  anything  in  the  old 
country.      It  is  good  to  have  an  education;   it 
makes  you  feel  higher.     Ignorant  people  are  all 
low.    People  say  now  that  T  am  ckver  ;ind  fine  in 
conversation.      There    is    a    little    ex{)ense    for 
charity,  too.    If  any  worker  is  injured  or  sick  we 
all  give  money  to  help."' 

'Hamilton  Holt,  Undistinguished  Americans,  43  ff. 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  Citv         211 


Stirely  this  is  j^ood  material.  A  chanj^cd  and  Pouibiuties 
Christian  environment  would  make  shininj^  lii^dits 
out  of  these  poor  immifjrants,  who  are  kept  in  the 
subways  of  American  life,  instead  of  being 
f^iven  a  fair  chance  out  in  the  open  air  and  sun- 
light of  decently  paid  service. 

Practically  all  of  the  work  in  tenements  is  car-   a  Foreigo 
ried  on  by   foreign-horn  men  and  women,  and   ^''"*'" 
more  than  that,  by  the  latest  arrivals  and  the 
lowest  conditioned  of  the  foreign-born.     Tene- 
ment-house legislation  has  been  practically  forced 
upon   New  York,   Massachusetts,  and   I'enn>>!- 
\ania,    whose   ports   of   entry    receive    the    first 
impact  of  immigration,  by  two  of  the  races  tliat 
have  been  crowding  into  the  ci.ics— the  Italian 
and   Hebrew.     The  Italian  woman,   working  in 
her  close  tenement,  has  by  her  chcaj)  labor  almost 
driven  out  all  other  nationalities  from  that  class 
of  work  still  done  in  the  home,  the  hand  sewino" 
on  coats  and  trousers.     Of  the  2o,(xx)  licenses 
granted  by  the  Xew  York  factory  inspector  for 
"home  finishing"  in  New  York  city,  ninety-five 
per  cent,  are  held  by  Italians.    This  work  has  to 
be    done   because   the   husband    is   not    making 
enough  to  support  the  family.    These  men  work 
i.iostly  as  street  laborers,  hucksters,  and  peddlers. 
To  make  both  ends  meet  not  only  the  wife  but 
children  have  to  work. 

Here  is  a  typical  case  of  this  class  of  worker   a  Typical  ca.e 
and  the  earnings,  from  an  inspector's  note-book : 


214 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


I 

i. 


The  Natural!, 
cation  Evil 


<»! 


"Antonia  Scarafino.  235  Mulberry  Street;  fin- 
isher; gets  five  cents  per  pair  pants,  bastes  bot- 
toms, puts  linings  on;  one  hour  to  make;  two 
years  at  this  business ;  four  in  this  country ;  mar- 
ried, with  baby  ;  sister  works  with  her ;  can  both 
together  make  $4  per  week ;  husband  peddles  fish 
and  makes  only  $1  to  $2  a  week ;  got  married 
here;  two  rooms,  $8.50  rent;  kitchen  10x12; 
bedroom  8x10;  gets  all  the  work  she  wants. 
Xo  sunlight  falls  into  her  squalid  rooms,  and 
there  is  no  stopping,  from  early  morning  till  late 
at  night." 

IV.     Three  Constant  Perils 

Illegal  and  fraudulent  naturalization  is  another 
evil  to  which  the  foreigner  in  the  city  becomes  a 
party,  although  the  blame  belongs  chiefly  to  the 
ward    politicians    who    make    him    a    particeps 
criminis.     The  recognized  managers  of  the  for- 
eign vote  of  various  nationalities— almost  always 
saloonkeepers— hold   citizenship    cheap,   perjury 
undiscovered  as  good  as  truth,  and  every  vote  a 
clear  gain  for  the  party  and  themselves.    So  the 
naturalization  mills  are  kept  running  night  and 
day  preceding  a  national  or  municipal  election. 
Describing  this  process,  ex-United  States  Senator 
Chandler  says  that  in  New  York  during  a  single 
month  just  before  election  about  seven  thousand 
naturalization  papers  were  issued,  nearly  all  by 
one   judge,   who   examined   each   applicant  and 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         215 


witnesses  to  his  satisfaction,  and  signed  his 
orders  at  the  rate  of  two  per  minute,  and  as 
many  as  618  in  one  day.  Many  classes  of  frauds 
were  committed.  Witnesses  were  professional 
perjurers,  each  swearing  in  hundreds  of  cases, 
testifying  to  a  five  years'  residence  when  the}- 
had  first  met  the  applicants  only  a  few  hours 
before.  During  the  past  year  some  of  these  pro- 
fessional perjurers  and  political  manipulators 
were  tried  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary;  but  the 
frauds  will  go  on.    Here  is  an  illustration : 

"Patrick  Hefferman,  of  a  given  street  in  New  Making 
York,  was  twenty-one  years  old  September  2.  c******** 
1891,  and  came  to  this  country  August  i,  1888. 
He  was  naturalized  October  20,  1891.  On  that 
day  he  was  introduced  by  Thomas  Keeler  to  a 
stranger,  who  went  with  him  to  court  and  signed 
a  paper;  they  both  went  before  the  judge,  who 
asked  the  stranger  something.  Hefferman  signed 
nothing,  said  nothing,  but  kissed  a  book  and 
came  out  a  citizen,  having  taken  no  oath  except 
that  of  renunciation  and  allegiance." 

Thus  are  the  sacred  rights  of  citizenship  Pr*ud 
obtained  by  thousands  upon  thousands,  not  in 
Xew  York  alone,  but  in  all  our  cities.  More  tlian 
that,  fraudulent  use  is  freely  made  of  naturaliza- 
tion papers.  The  Italian  immigrant,  for  exam- 
ple, finds  his  vote  is  wanted,  antl  obtains  a  false 
paper.  He  returns  to  Italy  to  spend  his  earnings, 
and  there  is  offered  a  sum  of  money  for  the  use 


Abundant 


2l6 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I     i 


The  Saloon 
and  the 
Immigrant 


Testimony 
of  Rtia 


of  his  papers.  These  are  given  to  an  emigrant 
wlio  probably  could  not  pass  the  examination  at 
Ellis  Island,  but  who  as  ?  naturalized  citizen, 
if  he  is  not  detected  in  the  fraud,  cannot  be  shut 
out.  Then  he  sends  the  papers  back  to  Italv. 
It  is  admitted  that  there  is  a  regular  traffic  in 
naturalization  papers.  In  every  way  the  alien  is 
put  on  the  wrong  track,  and  his  American  experi- 
ences are  such  as  would  naturally  make  him 
lawless  and  criminal  rather  than  a  good  citizen. 
He  needs  nothing  more  than  protection  against 
corrupting  and  venal  agencies,  which  find  their 
origin  in  politics  and  the  saloon. 

The  foreign  element  furnishes  the  saloons  with 
victims.  In  his  graphic  book  describing  tenement 
life  in  New  York  Mr.  Riis  shows  the  rapid  mul- 
tiplication of  the  saloons  in  the  slums  where  the 
foreigners  are  crowded  into  tenements,  nine  per 
cent,  more  densely  packed  than  the  most  densely 
populated  districts  of  London.  In  the  chapter, 
"The  Reign  of  Rum,"i  he  says : 

"  'Where  God  builds  a  church  the  devil  builds 
next  door  a  saloon'  is  an  old  saying  that  has  lost 
its  point  in  New  York.  Either  the  devil  was  on 
the  ground  first,  or  he  has  been  doing  a  good  deal 
more  in  the  way  of  building.  I  tried  once  to  find 
out  how  the  account  stood,  and  counted  to  in 
Protestant  churches,  chapels,  and  places  of  wor- 
ship  of   every  kind   below    Fourteenth   Street, 

'Jacob  Riis,  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  chap.  XVIIL 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         217 

4.065  saloons.  The  worst  half  of  the  tenement 
population  lives  down  there,  and  it  has  to  this 
day  the  worst  half  of  the  saloons.  Up  town  the 
account  stands  a  little  better,  but  there  are  easily 
ten  saloons  to  every  church  to-day. 

"As  to  the  motley  character  of  the  tenement  Hunting  for 
population,  when  I  asked  ^'  aj?ent  of  a  notorious 
Fourth  Ward  alley  hov  t  people  might  be 
living  in  it.  I  was  told:  On,  .  dred  and  forty 
families — one  hundred  Irish,  thirty-eight  Italian, 
and  two  that  spoke  the  German  tongue.  Barring 
the  agent  herself,  there  was  not  a  native-born 
individual  in  the  court.  The  answer  was  charac- 
teristic of  the  cosmopolitan  character  of  lower 
New  York,  very  nearly  so  of  the  whole  of  it, 
wherever  it  runs  to  alleys  and  courts.  One  may 
find  for  the  asking  an  Italian,  German,  French, 
African,  Spanish,  Bohemian,  Russian,  Scandina- 
vian, Jewish,  and  Chinese  colony.  The  one  thing 
you  shall  ask  for  in  vain  in  the  chief  city  of 
America  is  a  distinctively  American  community." 

The  immigrant  is  nearly  always  poor,  and  is  The  Peni  of 
thrust  into  the  poverty  of  the  city.  We  must  ^""""^ 
distinguish  between  pauperism  and  poverty.  As 
Air.  Hunter  points  out.  in  his  stirring  chapter 
on  this  subject,^  "pauperism  is  dependence  with- 
out shame,  poverty  is  to  live  miserable  we  know 
not  why,  to  have  the  dread  of  hunger,  to  work 

'Robert  Hunter,  Poverty,  chap.  I.  This  is  a  book  that  every 
American  should  read.  The  author  is  indebted  to  it  for  much  of 
the  material  in  this  chapter. 


2l8 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


V 


Some  CauTCB 
;of  Poverty 


sore  and  yet  gain  nothing."    Fear  of  pauperism, 
of  the  necessity  of  accepting  charitv,  drives  the 
self-respecting  poor  insane  and  to"  suicide.     It 
is  to  be  said  that  the  majority  of  the  immigrants 
are  not  paupers,  but  self- respecting  poor.    More- 
over, the  new  immigration  is  not  nearly  so  ready 
to  accept  pauperism  as  are  the  Irish,  who  make 
up  the  largest  percentage  of  this  class,  as  already 
shown.    But  the  poor  immigrants  are  compelled, 
by  circumstances,  to  come  in  contact  with,   if 
not  to  dwell  directly  among,  this  pauper  element, 
lost  to  sense  of  degradation.    The  paupers  make 
up  the  slums.    And  because  the  rents  are  cheaper 
in  the  miserable  old  rookeries  that  still  defy  pub- 
He  decency,  the  Italians  especiallv  crowd   into 
these  pestilential  quarters,  which  are  the  hotbeds 
of  disease,  physical  and  moral  filth,  drunkenness, 
and  crime.    Thus  pauperism  and  poverty  dwell 
too  closely  together. 

Upon  the  unskilled  masses  the  weight  of 
want  is  constantly  pressing.  Unemployment, 
sickness,  the  least  stoppage  of  the  scant  income, 
means  distress.  It  is  estimated  that  in  our  coun- 
try not  less  than  4,000.000  persons  are  depend- 
ents or  paupers,  and  not  less  than  10,000.000  are 
in  poverty.  This  means  that  thev  cannot  earn 
enough  regularly  to  maintain  the  standard  of 
life  that  means  the  highest  efficiency,  and  that 
at  some  time  they  are  liable  to  need  aid.  Mr. 
Riis  has  shown  that  about  one  third  of  the  people 


The  Foreign  Peri!  of  the  City 


219 


of  New  York  City  were  dependent  upon  charity 
at  some  time  during  the  eight  years  previous  to 
i»jo.  The  report  of  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties for  1901  shows  similar  conditions  existing 
among  the  Jewish  population  of  New  York 
Pauperism  is  a  peril,  and  poverty  is  a  source  of 
apathy  and  despair.  The  unskilled  immigrant 
tends  to  increase  the  poverty  bv  creating  a  sur- 
plus of  cheap  labor,  and  also  falls  under  the 
blight  of  the  evil  he  increases. 

Treating  of  this  subject,  the  Charities  Asso-   p.«peri.m 
ciation   of   Bo5+on   reports    that    it    is    hopeless   •''"'"»«'«'•- 
to  attempt  to  relieve  pauperism  so  long  as  its  *'°" 
ranks  are  increased  by  the  great  hosts  coming 
into   the  country,   with   onlv  a   '    .    dollars   to 
depend  upon,  and  no  certain  work.       he  statis- 
tics of  the  public  almshouses  show  tl    r  the  pro- 
portion of  foreign-born  is  greatlv  in  excess  of  the 
native-born.    The  pathetic  feature  of  this  condi- 
tion IS  that  what  is  wanted  is  not  charity  but 
employment  at  living  wages.    Greatlv  is  it  to  the 
credit    of    the    immigrants    from    southeastern 
Europe  that  they  are  eager  for  work  and  reluc- 
tant to  accept  charity.     The  danger  is  that    if 
allowed  to  come  and  then  left  without  oppor- 
tiinity  to  work,  they  will  of  necessity  fall  into 
the  careless,  shiftless,  vicious  class,  already  so 
large  and  dangerous. 

The  immigrants  in  the  city  tenements  are  espe- 
cially exposed  to  consumption,  that  "Great  White 


220 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


P 


\ 


i; 


f 


i 

V. 


Peril  of  the 
"Great  White 
Plague" 


Peril  of 
Child   Neglect 


Plague"  which  yearly  kills  its  tens  of  thousands. 
In  New  York  City  alone  ten  thousand  die  annu- 
ally of  tuberculosis ;  and  this  is  the  result  largely 
of  tenement  conditions.     Statisticians   estimate 
that  tlie  annual  money  loss  in  the  United  States 
froi  1  tuberculosis,  counting  the  cost  of  nursing, 
food,  medicines,  and  attendance,  as  well  as  the 
loss  of  productive  labor,  is  $330,000,000.     Mr. 
Hunter  instances  a  case  where  an  entire  family 
was  wiped  out  by  this  disease  within  two  years 
and  a  half.     In  spite  of  his  efforts  to  get  the 
father,  who  was  the  first  one  infected  with  the 
disease,  to  go  to  a  hospital,  he  refused,  saying 
that  as  he  had  to  die,  he  was  going  to  die  with 
his  family.     The  Health  Board  said  it  had  no 
authority  forcibly  to  compel  the  man  to  go  to  a 
hospital ;  and  the  result  was  that  the  whole  fam- 
ily died  with  him.    This  plague  "is  the  result  of 
our   weakness,   our   ignorance,   our   selfishness, 
and  our  vices ;  there  is  no  need  of  its  existence, 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  state  to  stamp  it  out" 
TRat  is  Mr.  Hunter's  conclusion,  with  which  we 
heartily  agree. 

V.     The  Cry  of  the  Children 

Another  peril  of  the  city,  and  of  the  entire 
country  as  well,  that  comes  through  the  foreign- 
ers is  child  neglect  and  labor ;  which  means  illit- 
eracy, stunted  body  and  mind,  and  often  wreck- 
age of  life.    Evciy  foreign  neighborhood  is  full 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         221 

of  children,  and  sad  enough  is  the  average  cliill 
of  poverty.  What  makes  the  tenement  district 
of  the  great  city  so  terrible  to  you  as  vou  '^o 
into  it  is  the  sight  of  the  throngs  of  children,  who 
know  little  of  home  as  vou  know  it,  have  irre"-u- 
lar  and  scanty  meals,  and  surroundings  of  inte!n- 
perance,  dirt,  foul  atmosphere  and  speech,  disease 
and  vice.  No  wonder  the  police  in  these  dis- 
tricts say  that  their  worst  trouble  arises  from 
the  boys  and  the  gangs  of  young  **toughs." 
There  is  every  reason  for  this  unwholesome  prod- 
uct. Mr.  Hunter  says  there  are  not  less  than 
half  a  million  children  in  Greater  Xew  York 
whose  only  playground  is  the  street.  Result,  the 
street  gang;  and  this  gang  is  the  really  vital 
influence  in  the  life  of  most  bo\s  in  the  large 
cities.  It  is  this  life,  which  develops,  as  Mr.  Riis 
says,  "dislike  of  regular  work,  physical  incapa- 
bility of  sustained  effort,  gambling  propensities, 
absence  of  energy,  and  carelessness  of  the  happi- 
ness of  others."  The  great  homeless,  yardless 
tenement,  where  the  children  of  the  immigrants 
are  condemnetl  to  live,  is  the  nursery  of  sickness 
and  crime.  The  child  is  left  for  good  influence 
to  the  school,  the  settlement,  or  the  mission.  For 
the  enormous  amount  of  juvenile  crime  in  tlie 
city,  which  it  requires  a  special  court  to  deal 
with,  the  conditions  are  more  responsible  than 
the  children,  or  even  than  the  parents,  who  are 
unable  to  maintain  home  life,  and  who,  through 


222 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


^ 


I' 


StfMt  Life 
ofChMdren 


Imprisoned 
Childhood 


the  pinch  of  poverty  or  the  impulse  of  avarice, 
give  over  the  education  of  the  children  to  school 
or  street.  Here  is  a  picture  of  the  life  on  its 
darker  side: 

"Crowded  in  the  tenements  where  the  bed- 
rooms are  small  and  often  dark,  where  the  living 
room  is  also  a  kitchen,  a  laundry,  and  often  a 
garment-making  shop,  are  the  growing  children 
whose  bodies  cry  out  for  exercise  and  play.  They 
are  often  an  irritant  to  the  busy  mother,  and 
hkely  as  not  the  object  of  her  carping  and  scold- 
ing.    The  teeming  tenements  open  their  doors, 
and  out  into  the  dark  passageways  and  co.  -ts, 
through  foul  alleys  and  over  broken  sidewalks, 
flow  ever  renewed  streams  of  playing  children. 
Under  the   feet  of  passing  horses,   under  the 
wheels  of  passing  street-cars,  jostled  about  by 
the  pedestrian,  driven  on  by  the  policeman,  they 
annoy  everyone.     They  crowd  about  the  music 
or  drunken  brawls  in  the  saloons,  they  play  hide- 
and-seek  about  the  garbage  boxes,  they  shoot 
'craps'  in  the  alleys,  they  seek  always  and  every- 
where activity,  movement,  life."^ 

But  worse  than  this  picture  is  that  of  child- 
hood in  the  sweat-shop,  the  factory,  the  mine,  and 
other  places  of  employment.  Mr.  Hunter  has 
written  a  chapter  on  "The  Child"2  that  should  be 
studied  by  every  lover  of  humanity.  Its  facts 
ring  out  a  clarion  call  for  reform.    This  touches 

'Robert  Hunter,  Poverty.  196.     'Idem,  chap.  V. 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City 


^2^ 

our  subject  most  closely  because,  as  he  says 
"These  evils  of  child  life  are  doubly  dangerous 
and  serious  because  the  mass  of  people  in  poverty 
in  our  cities  are  immigrants.  The  children  of 
immigrants  are  a  remarkable  race  of  little  ones." 

Indeed  they  are.  and  they  give  you  the  bright   h-pp/ 
side  of  the  picture,  in  spite  of  all  the  evil  condi-   ^'•"*"'«'»'* 
tions  in  which  they  live.  The  present  writer  stoo<l 
recently  opposite  the  entrance  to  a  public  school 
in  the  congested  East  Side,  where  not  one  of  all 
the  thousand  or  more  of  scholars  was  of  native 
stock.    As  the  crowds  of  little  girls  poured  out 
at  noontime  their  faces  made  a  fascinating  study. 
The  conspicuous  thing  about  them  was  the  smile 
and  fun  and  brightness.    The  dress  was  of  every 
description,  and  one  of  the  merriest-faced  of  all 
had  on  one  shoe  and  one  rubber  in  place  of  the 
second   shoe;   but    from   the    faces   vou    would 
never  suspect   into  what  kind  of  places   these 
children  were  about  to  go   for  all  they  know 
of  home.    The  hope  lies  in  the  children,  and  the 
schools  are  their  great  blessing  and  outlet,  even 
if  as  Mrs.  Betts  says,  many  of  them  of  certain 
classes  do  not  think  so.    Mr.  Hunter  says: 
"They  are  to  become  Americans,  and  through   What  Kind 

tiiem,  more  than  through  any  other  agency,  their   "'  * 

own  parents  are  being  led  into  a  knowledge  of 
American  ways  and  customs.  All  the  statistics 
available  prove  that  vice  and  crime  are  far  more 
common  am»ng  the  children  of  immigrants  than 


of  Americr.ns? 


224 


/liens  or  Americans? 


P 


li  ; 


A  Plain  Duty 


Child  Labor 


among  the  children  of  native  parentage,  and  this 
IS  due  no  less  to  the  yardless  tenement  and  street 
playground  than  to  widespread  poverty.     In  a 
mass  of  cases  the  father  and  mother  b<^th  work 
m  that  feverish,  restless  way  of  the  new  arrival, 
ambitious  to  get  ahead.     To  overcome  poverty 
they  must  neglect  their  children.    Turned  out  o'f 
the   small    tenement   into   the   street,   the   child 
learns  the  street.    Nothing  escapes  his  sharp  eyes, 
and  almost  in  the  briefest  cc.iceivable  time,  he 
is  an  American  ready  to  make  his  way  by  every 
known  means,  good  and  bad.    To  the  child  every- 
thing American  is  good  and  right.    There  comes 
a  time  when  the  parents  cannot  guide  him  or  in- 
struct him ;  he  knows  more  than  they ;  he  looks 
upon  their  advice  as  of  no  value.    If  ever  there 
was  a  self-made  man,  that  man  is  the  son  of  the 
immigrant.     But  the  street  and  the  street  gang 
have  a  great  responsibility ;  they  are  making  the 
children  of  a  hundred  various  languages  from 
every  part  of  the  world  into  American  citiz     ;." 
How   long  will  American   Christianity   :  .low 
this  process  of  degeneracy  to  go  on,  before  ^aaliz- 
mg  the  peril  of  it,  and  providing  the  counteract- 
ing agencies  of  good?    That  is  the  qu-stion  the 
young  people  ought  to  consider  and  help  answer. 
But   far  worse  than  all  else,   "the  nation   is 
engaged  in  a  traffic  for  the  labor  of  children." 
In  this  co-ntry  over  1,700,000  children  under 
fifteen  are  .ompelled  to  work  in  the  factories, 


The  Foreign  I  eril  of  the  City         225 

mines,  workshops,  and  fields.  These  figures  may 
mean  httle,  for  as  Margaret  McMillan  has  said, 
"You  cannot  put  tired  eyes,  pallid  cheeks,  and 
languid  little  limbs  into  statistics."  lUit  we  be- 
lieve that  if  our  Christian  people  could  be  brought 
for  one  moment  to  realize  what  tlie  inhumanity 
of  this  child  labor  is,  there  would  be  such  an 
avalanche  of  public  opinion  as  would  put  a  stop 
to  it.  This  evil  is  a  new  one  in  America,  begotten 
of  greed  for  money.  This  greed  is  shared  jointly 
by  the  capitalist  employer  and  the  parents,  but 
the  greater  responsibility  rests  upon  the  former, 
who  creates  the  possibility  and  fosters  the  evil. 

The  immigrants  furnish  the  parents  willing  to  AHenVictimi 
sell  their  children  into  child  slavery  in  the  fac- 
tory, or  the  worse  mill  or  mine— prisons  all, 
and  for  the  innocent.  Into  these  prisons  gather 
"tens  of  thousands  of  children,  strong  and  happy, 
or  weak,  underfed,  and  miserable.  Stop  their 
play  once  for  all.  and  put  them  out  to  labor  for 
so  many  cents  a  day  or  night,  and  pace  them  with 
a  tireless,  lifeless  piece  of  mecoanism,  for  ten 
or  twelve  hours  at  a  stretch,  and  you  will  have 
a  present-day  picture  of  child  labor."  But  there 
is  yet  one  thing  which  must  be  added  to  the  pic- 
ture. Give  the  child-slave  worker  a  tenement 
for  a  home  in  the  filthy  streets  of  an  ordinary 
factory  city,  with  open  spaces  covered  with  tin 
cans,  bottles,  old  shoes,  garbage,  and  other  waste, 
the  gutters  running  sewers,  and  the  air  foul  with 


226 


Miens  or  Americans? 


Th«  Shama  of 
tha  Century 


An  Appalling 
Racord 


odors  and  bl  ic!.  with  factory  smoke,  and  the  pic- 
ture is  fairl.N  complete.  It  is  a  dark  picture,  but 
hardly  so  dark  as  the  reality,  and  if  one  were 
to  describe  *1 .  of  the  yards"  in  Chicago,  or 
certain  -nil'  t  .vi.  or  mining  districts,  the  pic- 
ture wouM  I    c%.-i  darker  than  the  one  given. 

Think  cf  '  /o,  ng  people  of  Christian  Amer- 
ica! In  thi  t^^  '  -  th  cenmry.  in  the  country  we 
hke  to  thi'k  in  Mast  eM\  ened  in  the  world, 
after  all  .m.-  .,o.i.sv  .vuncements  in  civiliza- 
tion, child  •  1  .vcj.  re  pitiful  in  some  respects 
than  Africar  slav  ••  ;er  was— has  its  grip  on 
the  nation's  childhood. 

The  record  is  amazing  to  one  who  has  never 
thought  about  this  subject.     Easily  a  hundred 
thousand  children  at  work  in  New  York,  in  all 
sorts  of  employments  unsuitable  and  injurious. 
Try  to  realize  these  totals,  taken  from  Mr.  Hun- 
ter, of  children  under  fifteen,  compelled  to  work 
in    employments    generally    recognized    as    in- 
jurious :    Over  7,000  in  this  country  in  laundries  • 
nearly  2,000  in  bakeshops;  367  in  saloons  as  bar- 
tenders and  other  ways;  over  138.000  at  work 
as  waiters  and  servants  in  hotels  and  restaurants, 
with   long  hours  and  conditions   morally   bad; 
42.000  employed  as  messengers,  with  work  hours' 
often  unlimited  and  temptations  leading  to  im- 
morality and  vice ;  20,000  in  stores ;  2,500  on  the 
railroads;  over  24,000  in  mines  and  quarries; 
over  5,000  in  glass  factories;  about   10,000  in 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City         227 

sawmills  ami  the  wotul-workinf::  imltistrics ;  over 
-.500  in  iron  an'l  steel  mills;  over  1  i.ooo  in  cijjar 
and  tobacco  factories ;  and  over  80.000  in  the  silk 
iind  cottcn  and  other  textile  mills, 

Xow,  all  of  these  industries  are  physically  Soul  Murder 
injurious  to  childhood.  Hut  more  than  this,  '«»' »«o.icy 
schoolinj,'  has  been  made  imi)ossib!e,  and  immoral- 
'ty,  disease,  and  death  reap  a  rich  harvest  from 
this  seed-sowinj?.  And  why  are  these  helpless 
children  thus  enpraged  and  enslaved,  stunted, 
crippled,  and  corrupted,  deprived  of  education 
and  a  fair  chance  in  life?  Simply  because  their 
labor  is  cheip.  Mr.  Hunter  speaks  none  too 
strongly  when  he  calls  this  "murder,  cannibalism, 
destruction  of  soul  and  body."  And  it  is  the  chil- 
dren of  the  immigrants  who  are  tiius  sacrificed 
to  Mammon,  the  pitiless  god  of  greed.  Shall 
our  Christian  young  people  have  no  voice  in 
righting  this  wrong?  Within  a  generation  they 
can  put  an  end  to  it,  if  they  will.  Here  is  home 
missionary  work  at  hand,  calling  for  highest 
endeavors. 


228 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


t 


i 


QUESTION'S  FOR  CHAPTER  VI 

Aim  :  To  See  Clearly  the  Dancers  Arising  from 
Congestion  of  Foreigners  in  our  Cities,  and  the 
Best  Ways  of  Guarding  Against  Them 

I.  Foreigners  in  Cities. 

1.  What  are  the  chief  causes  of  the  following: 
(i)  the  rapid  growth  of  great  cities;  (2)  the 
existence  of  slums;  (3)  the  settling  of  immi- 
grants in  colonies? 

2.  Is  your  knowledge  of  the  lives  of  the  poor 
sufficient  to  move  you  to  work  for  their  re- 
demption? Are  any  of  those  persons,  about 
whom  we  have  studied,  your  neighbors? 

3.  Is  the  prevailing  tone  of  New  York  and 
other  cities  American  or  Foreign?  Give  illus- 
trations. 

4.  What  is  the  prevailing  tone  in  city  govern- 
ment? Is  there  any  connection  between  the 
answers  of  these  last  two  questions? 

II.  Tenement-House  Evils. 

5.  Where  do  most  of  the  foreigners  settle  first  in 
the  United  States?  Of  what  races  is  the  mass 
chiefly  composed? 

6.  Describe  the  conditions  under  which  they  live. 
Do  they  find  them  so  or  make  them  so? 

7.  Whu,  remedies  can  be  applied  to  tenement- 
house  conditions?  Wiiat  do  the  workers 
among  them  think  of  the  needs  and  prospects? 

8.  What  can  be  done  toward  improvement  by  the 
family?  the  school?  the  city  government? 

III.  Prevalent  Abuses. 

9  Do  the  slum  conditions  tend  to  contaminate 
new  arrivals?    Do  they  actually  deteriorate? 


The  Foreign  Peril  of  the  City  229 


10. 


II. 


12. 


What  is  the  worst  industrial  feature  of  the 
tenement-house  districts?  Describe  its  work- 
ings. Tell  of  some  typical  sweat-shop  workers. 
What  political  evils  flourish  in  the  congested 
districts? 

What  moral  and  social  evils  flourish  in  the 
congested  districts? 


IV.     Effects  upon  the  Poor  and  the  Children. 


13. 


14. 


15- 


16. 


What  relation  does  immigration  hold  to 
pauperism  and  poverty?  To  conditions  of 
heahh  ? 

Name  some  of  the  principal  authorities  for  the 
preceding  answers?  How  would  you  answer 
those  who  disputed  their  statements? 
Can  you  give  any  facts  as  to  child  labor  ?  What 
do  you  think  of  the  policy  of  employing  chil- 
dren? 

Does  this  chapter  convince  you  that  Christians 
have  a  duty  in  these  matter^  and  if  so,  what 
is  it? 


References  for  Advanced  Study.— Chapter  VI 
;.    New  York  Slums  and  Foreign  Quarters. 

Study  especially  the  Ghetto,  Little  Italy,  Little 
Hungary,  ct  al.  and  Imd  out  whether  similar 
conditions  exist  in  cities  of  your  section. 

For  New  York,  consult 
University  Settlement  Studies,  Vol.  i,  Xos.  3  and  4- 
Riis:  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  X,  XII. 

For  Chicago,  consult 
Hull  House  Papers. 

For  Boston,  consult 
Wood:  Americans  in  Process,  III,  IV. 


2.10 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


\ 


II.    Measures  for  Relief  of  Slum  Population. 
Riis:  The  Battle  With  the  Slum. 
Riis:  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  VI.  VII,  XXIV. 

III.  Connection  between  a  Demc  Foreign  Population 
and  Corruption  in  Politics. 

Wood:    Americans   in    Process,   VI. 

IV.  Checks    Put    upon    Industrial    Oppression    and 

Poverty. 

Riis :  The  Peril  and  the  Preservation  of  the  Home. 
V.    Problems  of  Poverty  and  Childhood  as  Affected 
by  Immigration. 
Hunter:  Poverty,  I,  V,  VI. 
Riis:  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  XV,  XVII,  XXI. 


XIV. 

atioH 


"To  make  us  love  our  country,  our 
country  ought  to  be  lovely,"  said  Burke. 
If  there  is  to  be  patriotism,  it  must  be 
a  matter  of  pride  to  say,  "Americanus 
sum"— I  am  an  American. — Professor 
Mayo-Smith. 


and 

ome. 

Kted 


CXI. 


VII 


IMMIGRATION  AND  THE  NATIONAL 
CHARACTER 


231 


f 


\ 


If  that  man  who  careth  not  for  his  own  household  is 
worse  than  an  infidel,  the  nation  which  permits  its  insti- 
tutions to  be  endangered  by  any  cause  that  can  fairly  be 
removed,  is  guilty,  not  less  in  Christian  than  in  natural 
law.  Charity  begins  at  home;  and  while  the  people  of 
the  United  States  have  gladly  offered  an  asylum  to 
millions  upon  millions  of  the  distressed  and  unfortunate 
of  other  lands  and  climes,  they  have  no  right  to  carry 
their  hospitality  one  step  beyond  the  line  where  Ameri- 
can institutions,  the  American  rate  of  wages,  the  Ameri- 
can standard  of  living  are  brought  into  serious  peril. 
Our  highest  duty  to  charity  and  to  humanity  is  to  make 
this  great  experiment  here,  of  free  laws  and  educated 
labor,  the  most  triumphant  success  that  can  possibly 
be  attained.  In  this  way  we  shall  do  far  more  for 
Europe  than  by  allowing  its  slums  and  its  vast  stagnant 
reservoirs  of  degraded  peasantrj'  to  be  drained  off  upon 
our  soil. — General  Francis  A.   Walker. 

If  the  hope  which  this  country  holds  out  to  the  human 
race  of  permanent  and  stable  government  is  to  be 
impaired  by  the  enormous  and  unregulated  inroad  of 
poverty  and  ignorance,  which  changed  conditions  of 
transportation  have  brought  upon  us,  then  for  the  sake 
of  Europe,  as  well  as  for  the  sake  of  America,  the  com- 
ing of  these  people  should  be  checked  and  regulated 
until  we  can  handle  the  problems  that  are  already  facing 
us. — Phillips  Brooks. 

There  are  certain  fundamentals  in  every  system,  to 
destroy  which  destroys  the  system  itself.  Our  institu- 
tions have  grown  up  with  us  and  are  adapted  to  our 
national  character  and  needs.  To  change  them  at  the 
demand  of  agitators  knowing  nothing  of  that  character 

and  those  needs   would  be  absurd  and  destructive. 

Professor  Mayo-Smith. 


VII 

IMMIGRATION  AND  THE  NATIONAL 
CHARACTER 


/.     Two  Points  of  View 

IMMIGRATION  is  a  radically  different  prob- 
km  from  that  of  slavery,  but  not  less  vital  to 
the  Republic.  It  is  a  marvelous  opportunity  for  a 
Christian  nation,  awake;  but  an  unarmed  in- 
vasion signifying  destruction  to  the  ideals  and 
institutions  of  a  free  and  nominally  Christian 
nation,  asleep.  "The  wise  man's  eyes  are  in  his 
head,"  says  Solomon,  "but  the  fool  walketh  in 
darkness.'  In  other  words,  the  difference 
between  the  wise  and  otherwise  is  one  of  sight. 
While  Americans  are  walking  in  the  darkness 
of  indifferentism  and  of  an  optimism  born  not  of 
faith  but  ignorance,  immigration  is  steadily 
changing  the  character  of  our  civilization.  We 
are  face  to  face  with  the  larger  race  problem — 
that  of  assimilating  sixty  nationalities  and  races. 
The  problem  will  never  be  solved  by  minimizing 
or  deriding  or  misunderstanding  it. 

All   through   this   study   we   have   sought   to 
1  emember  that  there  are  two  sides  to  every  ques- 

233 


The  Larger 
Race   Problem 


- -4. 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


t 


The  jwo  tion.  and  two  to  every  phase  of  this  great  immi 
gration  question.  Especially  is  this  true  when  w< 
come  to  estimating  effects  upon  character,  foi 
here  we  are  in  the  domain  of  inference  and  oi 
reasoning  from  necessarily  limited  knowledge, 
Here,  too,  temperament  and  bias  play  their  part, 
One  person  learns  that  of  every  five  persons  you 
meet  in  x\ew  York  four  are  of  foreign  birth  or 
parentage,  notes  the  change  in  personality,  cus- 
toms, and  manners,  and  wonders  how  long  our 
free  institutions  can  stand  this  test  of  unrestricted 
immigration.  Another  answers  that  the  foreign- 
ers are  not  so  bad  as  they  are  often  painted,  and 
that  the  immorality  in  the  most  foreign  parts 
of  New  York  is  less  than  in  other  parts. 

A   third    says    it    is    not    fair   to   count   the 
children   of    foreign-born   parents   as    foreign; 
that  they  are  in  fact  much  stronger  Americans 
in  general  than  the  native  children  of  native  par- 
entage;   and    instances    the    flag-drills    in    the 
schools,  in  which  the  foreign  children  take  the 
keenest  delight,  as  they  do  in  the  study  of  Ameri- 
can history.     But  a  fourth  says,  with  Professor 
Boyesen,  that  it  takes  generations  of  intelligent, 
self-restrained,    and    self-respecting   persons    to 
make  a  man  fit  to  govern  himself,  and  that  if  the 
ordinary    tests    of    intellig.xice    and    morality 
amount  to  anything,  it  certainly  would  take  three 
or  four  generations  to  educate  these  newcomers 
up  to  the  level  of  American  citizenship. 


Different 
Opinions 


Immigration  and  National  Character    235 

One  observer  of  present  conditions  says 
there  is  a  lowered  moral  and  political  tone  by 
reason  of  immigration;  and  another  agrees  with 
a  leader  in  settlement  work  who  recently  said  to 
the  writer  that  he  sees  no  reason  to  restrict  immi- 
gration, that  wages  will  take  care  of  themselves 
and  the  foreigner  steadily  improve,  and  that  there 
is  in  the  younger  foreign  element  a  needed  dy- 
namic, a  consciousness  of  Americanism,  an  inter- 
est in  everything  American  in  refreshing  contrast 
to  the  laissez-faire  type  of  native  young  person 
now  so  common.  His  conclusion,  from  contact 
with  both  types,  is  that  the  intenseness  and  enthu- 
siasm of  the  foreign  element  will  make  the  native 
element  bestir  itself  or  go  under. 

So  opinions  run,  pro  and  con.  There  must 
be  a  mean  between  the  two  extremes — the  one, 
that  God  is  in  a  peculiar  sense  responsible  for  the 
future  of  the  United  States,  and  cannot  afiford 
to  let  our  experiment  of  self-government  fail, 
however  foolish  and  reckless  the  people  may  be ; 
and  the  other,  that  unless  Congress  speedily 
passes  restrictive  laws  the  destiny  of  our  country 
will  be  imperiled  beyond  remedy.  We  find  such 
a  mean  in  that  Americanization  which  includes 
evangelization  as  an  essential  part  of  the  assimi- 
lating process. 

As  to  the  ubiquity  of  the  foreigner  all  will 
agree.  "Any  foreigners  in  your  neighborhood?" 
asked  the  writer  cf  a  friend  in  a  remote  country 


ConflictiDK 
Views 


Mean 

bet>veen 

Extremes 


Foreigners 
Everywhere 


236 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Porcifnlim 
Preserved 


hamlet.     "O.  yes."  was  the  reply,  "we  have  j 
colony  of  Italians."    Of  aU  such  questions  asked 
durmg  months  past  not  one  has  been  answered  in 
the  negative.    Go  where  you  will,  from  Atlantic 
to  Pacific  Coast,  the  immigrant   is  there.     In 
nineteen  of  the  northern  states  of  our  Republic 
the  number  of  the  foreign-bom  and  their  immedi- 
ate   descendants   exceeds    the    number   of   the 
native-born.    In  the  largest  cities  the  number  is 
two  thirds,  and  even  three  quarters.    There  are 
more   Cohens  than   Smiths   in  the   New   York 
directory.  Two  thirds  of  the  laborers  in  our  fac- 
tories are  foreign-born  or  of  foreign  parentage. 
New  England  is  no  longer  Puritan  but  foreign 
So  is  it  in  the  Middle  and  the  Central  West,  and 
not  only  in  city  and  town  but  hamlet  and  valley. 
The  farms  sanctified  by  many  a  Puritan  prayer  are 
occupied  to-day  by  French-Canadian  and  Italian 
aliens.     Foreigners  are  running  our  factories, 
working  our  mines,  building  our  railways,  bor- 
ing our  tunnels,  doing  the  hard  manual  labor  in 
all    the   great   constructive   enterprises   of   the 
nation.    They  are  also  entering  all  the  avenues 
of  trade,  and  few  other  than  foreign  names  can  be 
seen  on  the  business  signs  in  our  cities  large  or 
small. 

Not  only  do  you  find  the  foreigner,  of  one 
race  or  another,  everywhere,  but  wherever  you 
find  him  in  any  numbers  you  note  that  the  r  •  t 
distinctive  feature  is  the  foreignism.    The  im. 


I"(H   |{     N'ArtoNAI.ITIK.S 

•Ipwi-h   C.irl  I'uhK  k  f'.irl 

Italian  liov  S|iani^li  Mc.y 


Immigration  and  National  Giaracter    237 


grant  readily  catches  the  spirit  of  independence 
and  makes  the  most  of  liberty.  He  is  insistent 
upon  his  rights,  but  not  always  so  careful  al)Out 
the  rights  of  others.  He  is  imitative,  and  absorbs 
the  spirit  of  selfishness  as  quickly  as  do  the 
native-born.  He  is  often  unkempt,  uncul- 
tured, dirty,  and  disagreeable.  He  is  also  impres- 
sionable and  changeable,  responsive  to  kindness 
as  he  is  resentful  of  contempt.  He  follows  his 
own  customs  both  on  Sundays  and  week  days. 
He  knows  as  little  about  American  ideas  as 
Americans  know  about  him.  He  is  commonly 
apt  to  learn,  and  very  much  depends  upon  the 
kind  of  teaching  he  falls  under.  Much  of  it, 
unfortunately,  has  not  been  of  the  kind  to  make 
the  American  ideas  and  ways  seem  preferable  to 
his  own.  Made  to  feel  like  an  alien,  he  is  likely 
to  remain  at  heart  an  alien ;  whereas  the  very 
safety  and  welfare  and  Christian  civilization  of 
our  country  depend  in  no  small  degree  upon 
transfonning  him  into  a  true  American.  For 
upon  this  change  hangs  the  answer  to  the  ques- 
tion, which  influence  is  to  be  strongest — ours 
upon  the  foreigner  or  the  foreigner's  upon  us. 

//.    American  Ideals 

Surely  this  is  a  question  to  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  Christian  patriots — the  influence  of  this 
vast  mass  of  imdigested  if  not  indigestible  immi- 
gration upon  the  national  character  and  life.    A 


A  Question  for 
Patriots 


23^ 


Aliens  or  Amcricar..^? 


1!    I 


''-t 


most  scholarly  and  valuable  treat.  ient  of  this 
subject  is  found  in  the  discriniinati.isr  work  b\ 
IVofcssor  MayoSniitl..  one  of  the  very  best 
books  written  on  the  subject.  Tiie  fi^nires  are 
out  of  date,  but  the  principles  so  clearlv  enun- 
ciated are  permanent,  and  the  conclusions  sane 
and  sound.  This  is  the  way  he  opens  up  the 
subject  we  are  now  considering: 

^HiT^ciln^    .    *"^'^^  ^^'^'^'^  ^'^^  "f  a  nation  is  not  covered  bv 
ntioo  Jts  pohtics  and  its  economics.     Civilization  does 

not  consist  merely  of  free  political  institutions 
and  material  prosperity.    The  morality  of  a  com- 
munity, its  observance  of  law  and  order,  its  free- 
dom from  vice,  its  intelligence,  its  rate  of  mor- 
tality and  morbidity,  its  thrift,  cleanliness,  and 
freedom  from  a  degrading  pauperism,  its  observ- 
ance of  family  ties  and  obligations,  its  humani- 
tarian  disposition   and   charitv,   and   finally   its 
social  ideals  and  habits  are  just  as  much  indices 
of  Its  civilization  as  the  trial  bv  jury  or  a  high 
rate  of  wages.     These  things  are.  in  fact,  the 
.     -ver  and  fruit  of  civilization— in  them  consists 
.ue  successful  'pursuit  of  h.ippiness'  which  our 
ancestors  coupled  with  life  and  liberty  as  the 
inalienable  rights  of  a  man  worthy  of  the  name. 

"In  order  that  we  ma/  take  a  pride  in  our 
nationality  and  be  willing  to  make  sacrifices  for 
our  country,  it  is  necessary  tliat  it  should  satisfy 
in  some  measure  c  r  ideal  of  what  a  nation  ought 
to  be.     ;Vhat  now  are   the  characteristics  of 


Immigration  and  National  Character    239 


American  state  and  social  life  which  we  desire 
to  see  preserved?  Among  the  most  obvious  are 
the  following: 

"(i)   The  free  political  constitution  and  the  ability    Amcrtean 
to    govern    ourselves    in    the   ordinary    affairs   of    life,    !*«•'• 
which   we   have   inherited  from   England  and  so  sur- 
prisingly developed  in  our  own  history; 

"(2)  The  social  morality  of  the  Puritan  set^'ers  of 
New  England,  wh^.■h  the  spirit  of  equality  aud  the 
absence  of  privileged  classes  have  enabled  us  to 
maintain ; 

"(3)  The  pconomic  well-being  of  the  tn:iss  of  the 
community,  which  affords  our  working  cii'^sps  (iegne 
of  comfort  distinguishing  them  sharply  ir  mi  the 
artisans  and  peasants  of   Europe; 

"(4)  Certain  social  habits  which  are  (!.4incrKf'y 
American  or  are,  at  least,  present  in  great>  v  di  K'rve 
among  our  people  than  elsewhere  in  the  world.  Such 
are  love  of  law  and  order,  ready  acquiescence  in  the 
will  of  the  majority,  a  generally  humane  spirit,  display- 
ing itself  in  respect  for  women  and  care  for  children  .ind 
helpless  persons,  a  willingness  to  help  others,  a  sense 
of  humor,  a  good  nature  and  a  kindly  manner,  a 
national  patriotism,  and  confidence  in  the  future  of  the 
country. 

"All  these  are  desirable  traits ;  and  as  we  look 
forward  to  the  future  of  our  commonwealth  we 
should  wish  to  see  them  preserved,  and  should 
deprecate  influences  tending  to  destroy  the  con- 
ditions under  which  they  exist.  Any  such 
phenomenon  as  immigration,  exerting  wide  and 
lasting  influence,  should  be  examined  with  great 


1x' 


240 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Proteauot 
Reliffloo  Vital 


American  Life 
Chancing 


^     ' 


Si 


care  to  see  what  its  effect  on  these  things  will 
be.  '* 

We  should  add  to  th-s  thoughtful  statement  a 
clause  concerning  religion.  A  vital  thing  to  be 
maintained  and  extended  is  the  Protestant  faith 
which  formed  the  basis  of  our  colonial  and 
national  life.  No  part  of  the  subject  should  re- 
ceive more  careful  scrutiny  than  the  effect  of 
immigration  upon  iVotestant  America.  What- 
ever would  make  this  country  less  distinctively 
Protestant  in  religion  tends  to  destrov  all  the 
other  social  and  civil  characteristics  which,  it  is 
well  said,  we  wish  to  preserve. 

When  immigration  began  in  the  early  years 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  the  American  people 
possessed  a  distinctive  life  and  character  of  their 
o«n.  differing  in  many  respects  from  that  of 
any  other  people.    The  easy  amalgamation  of  the 
rac2s  that  formed  the  colonial  stock— English 
Huguenot,    Scotch.    Dutch— had    produced    an 
American  stock  distinct  from  any  in  the  Old 
World.  The  nation  was  practically  homogeneous, 
and  its  social,  religious,  and  political  ideals  and 
aims  were  distinct.     That  great  changes  have 
taken  place  in  the  past  century  no  one  will  deny. 
The  material  expansion  and  development  have 
net  been  more  marked  than  the  changes  social 
and  religious. 

Just   what  part   immigration   has   played    in 

•Richmond  Mayn^mith.  Emigration  and  Itnmigratiov.  .,  ff. 


Immigration  and  National  Character    241 

producing  these  changes  it  is  of  course  difficult   influence  of 
to  say  with  exactness,  but  unquestionably  the  """"'«'•"»» 
part  has  been  very  great.    The  twenty-three  mil- 
lions of  aliens  admitted  into  the  United  States 
since  1820  brought  their  habits  and  customs  and 
standards  of  living  with  them ;  brought  also  their 
religion  or  want  of  it ;  and  it  would  be  absurd  to 
imagine  that  all  of  these  millions  had  been  Ameri- 
canized,  or,  in  other  words,  had  given  up  their 
old  ways  for  our  ways  of  thinking  and  living. 
Or    the    contrary,    they    have    transported    all 
sorts  of  political  notions  from  monarchial  coun- 
tries to  our  soil.    "Tiie  continental  ideas  of  the 
Sabbath,  the  nihilist's  ideas  of  government,  the 
communist's  ideas  of  property,  the  pagan's  ideas 
of  religion— all  these  mingle  in  our  air  with  the 
ideas  that  shaped  the  men  at  Plymouth  Rock  and 
Valley  Forge."  that  adorned  hill,  dale  and  prairie 
with  Christian  church  and  Christian  school,  and 
made  possible  the  building  of  free  America. 
As  we  have  seen,  the  immigrants  have  mostlv   The  or.de  of 

represented  the  peasant  or  lower  classes  of  the   *" 

countries  whence  they  came.  This  is  noted,  not 
in  the  way  of  prejudice,  but  because  it  is  always 
true  that  mortality  is  greater,  and  crime,  illiter- 
acy, and  pauperism  are  more  prevalent  among 
the  lower  classes.  Of  course  it  is  also  true  that 
if  the  higher  classes  had  come  from  foreign  lands 
they  would  have  made  an  addition  to  tlie  social 
life  quite  different  from  that  which  did  come. 


the  AHena 


242 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


i 


Bad  Bffecta  of 
New  Environ- 
ment* 


'-4. 


The  average  character  of  the  immigration,  how- 
ever favorable,  required  raising  in  order  to  meet 
the  American  level.     In  the  new  environment  it 
was  to  be  expected  that  large  numbers  of  indi- 
viduals  among   the   immigrants   would    rise   to 
prominence  and  influence,  and  this  has  been  the 
case.    The  country  owes  large  debt  to  the  immi- 
grants   of    earlier    days.      Their    children    and 
descendants  are  loyal  Americans.    It  is  true,  o'l 
the  other  hand,  that  many  have  come  from  unfo- 
tunate  conditions  in  the  Old  World  only  to  fall 
into  quite  as  unfortunate  ones  in  the  New ;  and 
they   and   their   descendants   have    swollen    the 
pauper  and  criminal  class.    The  statistics  prove 
that  a  large  proportion  of  our  criminals  and  con- 
victs are  of  foreign  birth.    It  is  still  more  signifi- 
cant  to   note    that,    in    the    opinion   of    expert 
observers,  the  first  gener^^ion  of  foreign-born 
parentage,  in  the  cities  at  least,  make  a  worse 
record  than  the  migrating  parents. 

If  this  be  so,  the  new  environment  is  producing 
deterioration  and  degeneracy  instead  of  improve- 
ment. An  Italian  of  education,  working  among 
ills  people,  toid  the  writer  that  the  Italian  lx)ys 
and  girls  born  here,  or  coming  at  a  very  car' 
age,  were  much  more  lawless  an<l  disorderly  and 
difficult  to  deal  with  than  their  fathers  and 
mothers.  They  had  imbibed  all  the  worst 
features  of  our  life,  its  indcpcnd<*nce.  kit  defiance 
of  parental   authority,    its   selfishness,   rudeness, 


Immigration  and  Xational  Character    243 

and    vices,    wliile    they    lacked    the    reverence, 
courtesy,  and  spirit  of  obedience  native  to  the 
Italian-born.    T^is  is  substantiated  bv  many  wit- 
nesses who  have  labored  among  the  foreign  ele- 
ment.    The  Americanization  these  children  are 
getting  is  largely  of  the  worst  t\i>e— the  t\ pe  that 
we  should  like  to  see  emigrate  to  European  coun- 
tries.   And  it  is  confined  to  no  one  race,  but  com- 
mon to  all.     Professor  Boyesen,  for  instance,  a 
Noi  wegian-American,    who    blamed    the    ideas 
gained   hi   the   public   schools   for  some  of  the 
results  seen  in  the  young  hoodlums  and  roughs 
of  foreign  parentage,  said  that  worthy  Gennati 
anrl    Scandinavian    fathers   complained    bitterly 
that  they  could  not  govern  their  children  in  this 
country.    Their  sons  took  f-  the  streets,  and  if 
disciplined  left  home  entirely  :  and  thev  attributed 
this  to  the  spirit  of  irresponsible  independence 
m  the  air.    This  is  perhaps  one  of  the  inevitable 
penalties  of  individual  libertx . 

///.  J'arious  Effects  of  Immi:-ration 
The  introduction  through  immigration  of  a 
lowf-  standard  of  living  lias  been  shown  in  pre- 
cedmg  chapters.  The  point  to  be  appreciated  is 
that  in  this  matter  we  are  not  dealing  with  the 
iinniigratioa  of  uulividual  paupers  and  chcaj) 
orkingmen.  but  with  the  influx  of  whole  classes 
that  threaten  to  degrade  our  material  civilization. 
There  are  in  America  entire  communities  which 


Makinf  Life 
too  Chc«|p 


244 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


f 


r 


Good  Qualities 
Bad  if  Abused 


live  on  a  diflfercnt  plane,  and  form  colonies  as 
foreign  to  American  ideas  and  life  as  anything  in 
Europe  can  show.  They  have  organized  their 
own  social  life  and  fixed  their  own  standards, 
instead  of  rising  to  ours.  The  results  are  plain 
all  over  the  country.  Immigration  has  cheapened 
more  than  wages  in  certain  lines,  it  has  cheapened 
life,  until  the  coal  barons  could  say.  "  :t  is  cheaper 
to  store  men  than  coal."  But  men  may  be  too 
cheap. 

Some    of    the    best    qualities    in    the    immi- 
grants are  liable  to  abuse.    Thrift,  for  instance, 
is  commendable,  but  not  when  it  is  exercised  at 
the  expense  of  decent  living.     Economy  is  an 
admirable  trait,  but  not  when  practiced  at  the  ex- 
pense of  manhood  and  decent  conditions.    A  dis- 
tinct deterioration  of  the  masses  displaced  by  the 
cheaper  labor  has  marked  the  advent  of  the  new 
immigration.     While  some  of  the  workingmen 
thrown  out  of  employment  by  immigration  rise 
with  the  increase  in  the  number  of  superior  posi- 
tions, the  great  mass  are  obliged  to  accept  the 
lower  standard  or  are  forced  out  of  the  industry 
into  misery,  pauperism,  and  crime.    The  greater 
tendency  of  immigrants,  by  reason  of  their  pov- 
erty, to  permit  or  encourage  the  emplovment  of 
their  wives  or  children,  still  further  increases  the 
intensity  of  the  competition  for  employment.     In 
view  of  all  the  facts,  a  recent  writer    argues  that 
the  limitation  or  restriction  which  would  reduce 


False 

RMtoainr 


Immigration  and  National  Character    245 

the  volume  and  improve  the  economic  quality  of 
immigration  would  greatly  improve  labor  condi- 
tions in  this  country. 

^^  Under  the  present  free  inflow,  sa>s  this  writer,   D.terior.tion 
"the  condition  of  the  great  mass  of  the  work-   •«••»»* «' too 
ing   classes    of   this    country    is    being    perma-  JiV'on'"""'' 
nently  depressed,  and  the  difference  between  the 
industrial  condition  of  the  unskilled  workers  in 
our  country  and  of  other  countries  is  being  stead- 
ily lessened  to  our  permanent  and  great  detri- 
ment. "> 

As   to   the  economic   effects  of  unrestricted 
immigration,  the  stock  argument  that  it  costs  a 
foreign  country  a  thousand  dollars  to  raise  a 
man,  and  that,  therefore,  every  immigrant  is  that 
much  clear  money  gain  to  this  country,  simply 
begs  the  question  of  the  usefulness  of  the  immi- 
grant and  the  country's  need  of  him.    Many  im- 
migrants are  not  worth  what  it  cost  to  raise  them, 
to  their  native  land  or  any  other;  and  at  any 
rate,  a  man  is  only  of  value  where  he  can  fit  into 
the  community  life  and  do  something  it  needs  to 
have  done.     Another  naive  claim  is  that  every 
mouth  that  comes  into  the  country  brings  with  it 
two  hands,  the  assumption  being  that  there  is 
necessarily  work  for  the  two  hands.    If  not,  then 
there  is  an  extra  mouth  to  be  fed  at  somebody 
else's   expense.     The   real   question   is   one   of 
demand  and  quality. 

•Walter  S.  Htyl,  in  VnivtrsUy  SettUment  Sludus. 


246 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


I' 
i  ■ 

?  ■ 


4 


Effects  upoo 
Education 


Baneful 
Results  in 
Illinois 


Parochial 
Schools  in 
Pennsylvania 


What  effect  has  immigration  had,  and  what 
IS  It  likely  to  have,  upon  our  national  educational 
policy?    Tlie  parochial  school  is  opposed  to  the 
public  school ;  the  parochial  school  is  Roman,  the 
public  school  American.     The  parochial  schools 
could  not  secure  scholars  but  for  immigration. 
The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  persistently  trying 
to  get  appropriations  of  public  monev  for  paro- 
chial schools,  although  well  aware  that  this  is 
directly  contrary  to  the  fundamental  American 
principle  of  absolute  separation  of  Church  and 
State;  and  is  relying  upon  the  foreign  vote  to 
accomplish  this  un-American  purpose.     Here  is 
an  illustration  of  the  conditions  made  possible 
through  unchecked  immigration  and  the  wielding 
of  this  immigration  by  priestly  influence: 

In  Illinois  the  foreign  element  outnumbers  the 
native  in  voting  power.  In  consequence  compul- 
sory education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  state 
was  voted  down  by  a  legislature  pledged  to  obey 
the  dictum  of  the  foreign  element.  Where  the 
priests  wield  the  foreign  element  in  favor  of  the 
parochial  schools,  it  is  not  possible  to  pass  a  bill 
for  compulsory  education  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

The  striking  fact  is  given  by  Dr.  Warned  that 
in  parochial  schools  for  the  Slav  children  in  Penn- 
sylvania, English  is  not  taught,  and  the  children 
are  growing  up  as  thoroughly  foreign  and  under 

'F.  J.  Wanie.  The  Slav  Invasion,  103. 


Immigration  and  National  Character    247 

priestly  control  as  though  they  were  in  Bohemia 
or  Galicia. 

A  student  of  this  subject^  savs  that  all  the  facts 
mdicate  that  the  time  will  come  when,  if  com- 
pulsory education  in  English  is  not  maintained 
by  the  states,  this  important  matter  will  have  to 
be  made  one  of  national  legislation.    "The  supine 
bowing  of  the  native  element  in  our  political  par- 
ties to  this  foreign,  domineering.  un-American 
and  denationalizing  opposition  to  the  state  control 
of  the  education  of  the  child  for  citizenship  is  in 
Itself  a  menace.    When  we  hear  of  public  schools 
m  America  taught  in  German  and  Polish,  instead 
of  the  language  of  Emerson  and  Longfellow,  Lin- 
coln   and    Grant,    one    feels    like    taking,    not 
Diogenes'  lantern,  but  an  Edison  searchliglit  and 
going  about  our  streets  to  see  if  there  be  in  all 
our  cities  a  patriot."    More  evil  in  results  than 
this,  and  most  insidious  of  all  the  attempts  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  hierarchy  to  undermine  Ameri- 
can prmciples.  is  the  system  of  so-called  com- 
promise by  which  some  of  the  public  schools  are 
taught  by  nuns,  sisters,  and  priests,  who  wear 
their  church  garb,  and  use  the  school  buildings 
during  certain  hours  for  sectarian   instruction 
The  mere  statement  of  the  facts  ought  to  be 
sufficient  to  bring  about  drastic  remedies,  but  the 
easy-going  Protestants  apparently  do  not  realize 
what  is  being  done. 

'Rena  M,  Atchison.  Un-American  Immigration,  8a. 


A  Real 

Menace  to  the 
Republic 


248 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


American  patriotism  must  steadily  and  reso- 


School!  th« 

Surt  Way  to  •  wv^»ww,r    o.tw    iou- 

An.«ric.nj,m   lutelv  resist  every  Roman  Catholic  attack,  open 
or  covert,  upon  our  public  schools,  everv  attempt 
to  divert  public  moneys  to  sectarian  purposes. 
This  is  vital  to  the  preservation  of  our  civil  and 
religious  liberty.    For  the  immigrant  children  the 
public  schools  are  the  sluiceways  into  American- 
ism.   When  the  stream  of  alien  childhood  flows 
throui^h  them,  it  will  issue  into  the  reservoirs  of 
national  life  with  the  Old  World  taints  filtered 
out,  and  the  qualities  retained  that  make  for 
loyalty  and  good  citizenship.    We  shall  have  to 
look  to  our  school  boards,  elevate  them  above 
party  politics  and  the  reach  of  graft,  and  elect 
upon  them  men  and  women  instinct  with  the 
spirit  of  true  Americanism,  or  see  this  mightiest 
agency  of  modem  civilization  diverted  from  its 
high  mission  to  produce  for  the  Republic  an  en- 
lightened and  noble  manhood  rud  womanhood. 

What  is  the  effect  of  the  addition  of  so  many 
thousands  of  men  of  voting  age  upon  our  political 
conditions  ?  Undoubtedly  demoralizing  and  dan- 
gerous. Professor  Mayo-Smith  savs:  "We  arc 
thus  conferring  the  privilege  of  citizenship  in- 
cluding the  right  to  vote,  without  any  test  of  tlit 
man's  fitness  for  it.  The  German  vote  in 
many  localities  controls  the  action  of  political 
leaders  on  the  liquor  question,  oftentimes  in 
opposition  to  the  sentiment  of  the  native  com- 
munity.   The  bad  influence  of  a  purely  ignorant 


Effect*  upon 
Political 
Condition  • 


Immigration  and  National  Qiaracter    249 

vote  is  seen  in  the  degradation  of  our  municipal 
administrations  in  America."*  The  foreign-born 
congregate  in  the  large  cities,  especially  the 
mass  of  unskilled  laborers.  There  thev  easily 
come  under  control  of  leaders  of  their  own  race, 
who  use  them  to  further  selfish  ends.  Fraudulent 
naturalization  is  another  evil  result.  There  is  no 
more  dangerous  element  in  the  Republic  than  a 
foreign  vote,  wielded  by  unscrupulous  partisans 
and  grafters.  The  immigrant  is  not  so  much  to 
blame  as  are  those  who  corrupt  him,  but  if  he 
were  not  here  they  would  have  no  opportunity. 
In  order  to  wield  a  bludgeon  a  bully  must  have 
the  bludgeon. 

There  is  an  unquestioned  and  increasing  evil   a  vot.r 
and  peril  in  a  German  vote,  an  Irish  vote    a   *•"»""•»•  aw* 
Scandinavian  vote,  an  Italian  vote,  and  a  Hebrew   B-n""' 
vote.    Out  in  South  Dakota  a  Russian  vote  also 
has  to  be  reckoned  with,  and  in  New  England  a 
French-Canadian  vote.    All  this  is  unr; -mocratic 
and  unwholesome  in  the  highest  degree.     Our 
government   is  based  upon  the  intelligent  and 
responsible  use  of  the  ballot.    How  can  such  use 
be  possible  in  the  case  of  the  naturalized  alien 
who  cannot  read  or  write  our  language  or  any 
other?    No  one  can  declare  it  unreasonable  that 
a  reading  test  as  a  qualification  for  voting  should 
be  required  of  all.    On  the  brighter  side  of  the 
political  phase,  it  is  asserted  that  it  was  the  for- 

•Richmond  Mavn^nMth,  Emigration  and  Immigration   84  ff. 


Ihla 


250 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


BflTectt  upoa 

ReliKioui 

Conditiecs 


eipm  element  of  the  East  Side  in  New  York  tha 
made  possible  the  election  of  a  reform  .andidat 
m  a  lecent  election,  and  that  this  element  can  b 
relied  upon  for  reform  and  independent  votinj 
quite  as  much  as  the  American  society  element 
which  is  frequently  too  indifferent  to  vote  at  all 
There  is  too  much  truth  in  this.     At  the  .san^ 
time,  one  who  is  familiar  with  the  discussions  ai 
the   People's   Forum   in  Cooper  Institute.   New 
York,  or  similar  meeting  places  of  the  foreign 
element  in  other  large  cities,  knows  how  essen- 
tially un-American  are  the  poini  of  view  and  the 
theories  most  advocated. 

ly.    The  Religious  Problem 
WTiat  is  the  effect  of  immigration  upon  the 
religious  life  of  the  country?    This  is  an  excee-!- 
mgly  difficult  matter  upon  which  to  generalize 
There  is  no  doubt  that  great  changes  have  taken 
place  in  the  religious  views  and  practices  of  the 
people,  but  how  far  these  can  be  attributed  to 
foreign  influence  is  something  upon  which  agree- 
ment will  be  rare  and  judgment  difficult.    It  will 
be  instructive,  first  of  all,  to  study  this  table 
which  gives  the  results  of  questions  asked  the 
immigrants  in    1900  concerning  their  religious 
connections.     This  was  the  last  inquirv  of  the 
kind  officially  made,  and  will  indicate  what  rt 
gious  elements  in  immigration  must  be  taken  into 
consideration : 


Immigration  and  National  Character 

RELIOIOIS  STATISTlC-a  OF  THE  IMMIGIIATIOX  FOR  igoo 


25  » 


Countriis 


Auttriu-HuiiRAry 

Belgium. 

Denmark 

Frsnce 

German  Empire 

CiTfTce 

Italv 

Nftliorland* 

Norway 

Portugal 

Ittiumania 

RuKian  Empire  and 

Finland 

Servia,  Bulgaria 

i*p:titl 

Sw«Jon 

Swit*riand 

Turkey  in  Europe. 
I  nitod  Kingdom  .. 

Nut  aiH-cififHi 

Total  Eiiinpc 

Total  Alia     . 

Africa 

AU  other  CO un trim 


Grand  lutai 

in    eucli 


Total 


l.Tis' 
3,2.W 
4'10.' 

.'"..(KVt 
l',4iO 

7».ti«4 

i.irn 

7.113 
2.2rt9 


62,537,  13,2tt5    22.4«2 

59      . 

1.42H  15 

13,541    12.70m 

2.134,       710 

137!         5 

6.\3fJO  U'.fili 


1   5,009 

39.>i»4 

«4 

*i7: 

2,(129 

44 

Krt 

1.7*1 

10,25S 

«.75s 

14 

14 

.V) 

7,S,3li.. 

K.« 

190 

<i.«74 

•> 

2 

2,av. 

itn 

tJO 

1 

341.iai{»i5.i3H 

9.72«       4.W 

109         13 

10.4401    1.274 


4 

704| 

9' 

am 
5 

3l..>lt< 

j 

184..S3S: 

1.3901 

2.17^ 


ad 

7.ti09 


3 

\s 
2.3.-I 

2n 


31 

1.470 
47 


all 
4 

5: 
ll.fi95 
2.S33 

111 


I1.0S2 
4 


2 

13 

401 

.. 

2 

1 

1.350 

24.351 

1 

1 

"  »i 

27 

197 

13 

1 

37.«2 
4.S 

.') 
2.S 


3fil.43fij66.S77i  188.412  li 53!)  37.523 


Percfnta4ti 
religion. 


100    18.54|    52.14 


403 


3,373, 

22X' 


10  39|     .99 


1.351 

fitll 

S7H 

2.tM4 

H.4iM» 

72 

1.2S1 

W7 

437 

211 

54 


954 

7 

709 

S24 

91  >3 

.'>♦ 

1  21,3t>l 

3 

I'l  41.934 

"    1.553 

1"        m 

«,721 

110  50.274 


13  91 


In  analyzing  these   figures,   it  will   be   notol    Eighty 
that  the  Roman  Catholics  had  fifty-two  per  cent    ^"  '^«"'- 
in  a  year  when  the  total  immigration  of  361436  l^'^'^"'*"- 
(not  much  over  une  third  that  of  the  present 
time)  was  about  the  same  in  the  proportion  of 
aliens  from  southeastern  Europe  as  now.     The 
Tews  would  make  a  larger  showing  at  present,  as 
the  immigrants  from  Russia  are  almost  wholly 
Jews.     The  Protestant  strength  certainly  would 
not  be  any  greater  proportionately.     The  large 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


iw 


Li 


US,  tsi 

2.2 


1 4.0 


2.0 


1.8 


A  APPLIED  ItVMGE     Ir 

^^  1653   East   Main   Street 

B'-S  Rochester.   Ne»  York        U609      USA 

'-as  (716)   ■482  -  0300  -  Ptione 

^S  (716)   288- 5989  -  Fax 


252 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Sunday 
Obttrvance 


number  put  down  as  miscellaneous  is  significant. 
What  a  task  is  laid  upon  American  Protestantism 
—nothing  less  than  the  evangelization  of  nearly 
eighty-two  per  cent,  of  the  vast  immigration.  It 
is  easy  to  say  that  the  fifty-two  per  cent,  is  nomi- 
nally Christian,  but  in  fact  that  nominal  Chris- 
tianity is  in  many  respects  as  much  out  of 
sympathy  with  American  religious  ideals,  with 
democracy  and  the  pure  gospel,  as  is  heathenism  ; 
and  it  is  in  many  cases  as  difficult  to  reach,  and 
as  great  an  obstacle  to  the  assimilation  of  the 
?»liens. 

Looking  at  various  results  of  this  incoming 
host,   in   regard   to  reverence  for   Sunday  and 
observance  of  it,  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  mil- 
lions of  Germans,  with  their  continental   Sun- 
day, were  leaders  in  breaking  in  upon  our  Sun- 
day   customs.    While    they    have    as    a    people 
observed  the  laws — although  seeking  to  have  the 
laws  changed  so  as  to  permit  here  the  home 
customs  of  open  concert  halls  and  beer  gardens 
on  Sunday  afternoon  and  evening — their  influ- 
ence has  been  strongly  felt  in  favor  of  loose 
Sunday  observance,  and  this  has  been  sufficient 
to  stimulate  the  natural  tendency  of  the  Ameri- 
can element  to  make  the  day  one  of  amusement 
and  recreation,  regardless  of  laws.     The  result 
is  that  now  we  have  a  lawless  American  Sunday 
quite  different  from  and  more  objectionable  than 
the  continental  Sunday. 


Immigration  and  National  Charact 


er 


253 


In  the  larger  cities  throughout  the  country  the  Di.reg.rd  of 
encroachments  of  the  money-makers  have  been   ^^"^ 
steady.    Performances  of  all  kinds  are  permitted, 
theaters  run  either  openly  or  with  thinly  veiled 
programs,  saloons  are  open  to  those  who  know 
where  the  proner  entrances  are,  and  many  forms 
of  business  and  labor  are  earned  on  seven  days 
in  the  week.     The  Jews  claimed  tliat  it  was  a 
hardship  to  have  to  close  on  Sunday,  when  their 
religious  observances  came  on  Saturday,  with 
result  that  a  good  many  manage  to  keep  shops 
and  factories  open  all  the  year  around.     Pleas 
of  necessity  have  been  put  forward  where  con- 
tractors desired  to  push  jobs  and  profits.    Sun- 
day excursions  are  universal,  and  in  order  to 
gain  their  Sunday  pleasure-outings  several  mil- 
lions of  people  of  all  races  keep  several  other 
millions  hard  at  work  on  the  day  of  rest.     All 
places    are    crowded    on    Sunday    except    the 
churches.    Go  among  the  foreign  elements  in  the 
city  and  you  would  never  know  it  was  Sunday. 
Holiday  has  supplanted  holy-day.    Observe  the 
trolley-cars  or  subway  or  elevated  trains  on  San- 
day  and  you  will  see  nine  foreigners  out  of  every 
ten  persons.    Go  into  the  suburbs  and  you  will 
find  springing  up  in  out-of-the-way  places,  where 
land  can  be  secured  cheap,  little  recreation  parks, 
with  games  and  dancing  platforms;  and  here 
there  will  be  throngs  of  Italians  and  other  for- 
eigners all  day. 


254 


Aliens  or  Americans' 


Lost  of  the 

American 

Sunday 


General 
Deterioration 


Let  us  be  just  in  this  matter.  The  loss  of 
the  American  Sunday  is  undoubtedly  due  in 
great  measure  to  immigration  ;  due  in  part  to  the 
weakness  and  dereliction  of  American  professing 
Christians  who  have  surrendered  to  the  foreign 
elements  and  fallen  in  with  their  ideas  instead  of 
maintaining  public  worsliip  and  insisting  upon 
respect  for  law  at  least.  Let  the  blame  fall  where 
it  belongs,  and  let  the  church  members  recreant 
to  duty  take  their  share.  \\'hcn  the  sea  threat- 
ened Holland  her  resolute  people  built  the  dykes 
and  maintained  them;  American  Christians  have 
failed  to  stop  the  leaks  in  the  church  dykes,  and 
we  have  had  a  Sunday  submergence  in  conse- 
quence. The  eflfect  of  it  upon  our  national  de- 
velopment is  already  evident  and  is  most  disas- 
trous to  our  highest  interests.  Sabbath-breaking 
and  progress-making  never  go  together.  Sunday 
vi^ork  and  pleasure  combined  form  the  peril  alike 
of  the  American  workingman  and  of  Christian 
civilization. 

Along  with  this  inflow  of  alien  ideas  in  reli- 
gion goes  a  lowered  morality  and  a  lower  tone 
generally.  Not  that  the  sins  of  those  '--  high 
places  are  to  be  charged  upon  the  poc.  umi- 
grant,  for  he  rarely  if  ever  belongs  to  that  class. 
The  statement  may  be  true  that  the  great  rascals 
are  of  native  stock.  But  that  only  increases  the 
peril.  The  masses  that  come  to  us  from  southern 
Europe  certainly  will  not  raise  the  moral  or  com- 


Immigration  and  National  Character 


■00 


mercial,  any  more  than  they  .vill  the  poHtical  or 
intellectual,  level.  If  uc  (Id  not  raise  them  they 
will  tend  to  1.  v.^r  us;  and  much  of  what  they 
see  and  hear  can  have  nothing  less  than  a  demoral- 


izmg  effect. 


Where   shall    we   find   the   zealous   and   con-   The  oniy 
sistcnt   Christians   who  by   sympathetic   contact   safeguard  of 
will  represent  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity,  and    ^''""^ 
make  the  elevation  of  the  aliens  possible?    Th* 
supreme  truth  to  be  realized  is  that  nothing  but 
Christianity,  as  incarnated  in  American  Protest- 
antism, can  preserve  America     free  institutions. 

Ex- President  Seelye.  of  Amherst,  said  that  so-  Spread  of 
cialism  is  the  question  of  the  tiuie,  an  :  this  is  S'''^''"*"' 
more  apparent  with  every  passing  yeai.  Social- 
ism has  its  source  in  the  foreign  element.  It  is 
not  native  to  America.  Its  swelling  hosts  are 
composed  almost  entirely  of  immigrants  of  recent 
coming.  It  is  found  not  only  in  the  great  cities 
but  is  spreading  through  the  farming  sections. 
Aovv,  there  is  a  truth  in  socialism  that  must  be 
intelligently  dealt  with ;  and  there  is  a  Christian 
socialism  that  should  become  dominant.  And 
this  is  the  only  force  that  can  check  and  counter- 
act the  foreign  socialism  that  would  sweep  away 
foundations  instead  of  ameliorating  conditions 
and  remedying  evils. 

In  the  same  way,  Protestant  Christianity  is  the    Migration  a 
only  agency  that  can  save  us  from  the  moral 
degeneracy  involved  in  migration,  even   if  the 


Severe  Test 


256 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Why  Foreicn 
Coloniei  are 
Perpetuated 


immigrants  were  of  our  moral  grade  before 
coming.  As  Dr.  Strong  says,  the  very  act  of 
migration  is  demoralizing.  All  the  strength  that 
comes  from  associations,  surroundings,  relations, 
the  emigrant  leaves  behind  him,  and  becomes 
isolated  in  a  strange  land.  Jc  it  strange,  then, 
that  those  who  come  from  other  lands,  whose  old 
associations  are  all  broken  and  whose  reputations 
are  left  behind,  should  sink  to  a  lower  moral 
level?  Across  the  sea  they  suffered  restraints 
which  are  here  removed.  Better  wages  afford 
larger  means  of  self-indulgence;  often  the  back 
is  not  strong  enough  to  bear  prosperity,  and  lib- 
erty too  often  lapses  into  license.' 

This  result  of  migration  is  at  once  an  evil  and 
an  opportunity.  Breaking  away  from  the  old 
associations  leaves  room  and  necessity  for  new 
ones.  Upon  the  character  of  these  the  future  of 
the  immigrant  will  largely  depend.  Here  is  the 
Christian  opportunity.  See  to  it  that  the  new  asso- 
ciations make  for  righteousness  and  patriotism.  If 
the  immigrant  is  evangelized,  assimilation  is 
easy  and  sure.  It  is  recognition  of  this  fact  that 
leads  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  to  keep  for- 
eign colonies  in  America  as  isolated  and  per- 
manent as  possible.  The  ecclesiastics  realize  that 
children  must  be  held  in  the  parochial  schools, 
so  as  to  avoid  the  Americanization  that  comes 
t]'r:>ugh  the  public  schools,  with  the  probable 


'Josiah  Strong,  Our  Country,  56. 


l'«>iiir(.ri;sK  and  Spanish  Ciiii.dkkn- 
!'.!!! iiLMif'^o  Hi.y  nu-]  Cirl 


[%»;*\*;|.! 


Immigration  and  Xational  Character    257 

loss  of  loyalty  to  the  church.    The  parents  equally 
must  be  kept  away  from  the  influences  that  would 
broaden  and  enlighten  them.     Dr.   Strong  tells 
of  large  colonies  in  the  West,  settled  by  foreign- 
ers of  one  nationality  and  religion ;  "thus  build- 
ing up  states  within  a  state,  having  dilTerent  lan- 
guages, different  antecedents,  different  religions, 
different  ideas  and  habits,  preparing  mutual  jeal- 
ousies,  and  perjetuating   race   antipathies.      In 
New  England  conventions  are  held  to  which  only 
French-Canadian  Roman  Catholics  are  admitted. 
At  such  a  convention  in  Nashua.  New  Hampshire, 
attended  by  eighty  priests,  the  following  mottoes 
were   displayed:    'Our   tongue,   our   nationality, 
our  religion.'    'Before  everything  els.    let  us  re- 
main French!'"     And  it  is  well  said.  "If  our 
noble  domain  were  tenfold  larger  than  it  is,  it 
would  still  be  too  small  to  embrace  with  safety  to 
our  national  futur  ,  little  Germanics  here,  little 
Scandinavias  there,  and  little  Irel.inds  yonder." 
To-day  there  are  also  little  Italics  and  little  Hun- 
garies,  and  a  long  list  of  other  races. 

V.     The  Hopeful  Side 

Turning  to  the  pleasanter  and  brighter  side  of 
this  great  question,  we  give  the  encouraging  view   a  Briehter 
of  one  who  has  spent  years  among  the  immigrant    **'""'' 
population,   studying   their  environ-^ient,   condi- 
tions, and  chv.racter,  with  yiew  tO  improving  their 
chances.    She  savs: 


258 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


tt^ 


The  Open 
Door 


"The  writer  will  risk  just  one  generalization 
which,  it  is  hoped,  the  ultimate  facts  will  bear 
out,  that  in  the  case  of  •'le  new  immigration  we 
shall  see  a  repetition  of  the  story  of  the  old  immi- 
grant we  are  so  familiar  with.  First  con  -^s  the 
ignorant  and  poor  but  industrious  peasa  it,  the 
young  man,  alone,  without  wife  or  famil>.  For 
a  few  years  he  works  and  saves,  living  according 
to  a  'standard  of  life'  which  shocks  his  older 
established  neighbors,  and  we  may  guess  would 
often  shock  his  people  at  home.  At  first  he 
makes  plans  for  going  back,  sends  his  savings 
home,  and  perhaps  goes  back  himself.  But  he 
usually  rctims  to  this  country,  with  a  wife. 
America  has  now  become  his  home,  savings  are 
invested  here,  land  is  bought,  and  a  little  house 
built.  The  growing  children  are  educated  in 
American  schools,  learn  American  w  .ys,  and 
forcibly  elevate  the  'standard  of  life'  of  the 
family.  The  second  generation,  in  the  fervor 
of  its  enthusiasm  for  change  and  progress  be- 
come" turbulent,  unruly,  and  is  despaired  of. 

"But  out  of  the  chaos  emerges  a  third  gen- 
eration, of  creditable  character,  from  whom  much 
may  be  expeot^'d.  Our  Austrian,  Hungarian,  and 
Russian  newcomers  are  still  in  the  first  and 
second  stages,  and  there  seems  no  good  reason 
why  they  should  not  pull  through  successfully  to 
the  third.  But  in  that  endeavor  we  can  either 
help  or  materially  hinder  them,  according  to  our 


Iminij^rratiiti  and  Xational  eiiaracicr    .'39 

treatment  of  tlicm.  as  ef;iploycc.s.  as  producers, 
as  fallow  citizens.  America.  f<  r  her  (  un  s;ii;e. 
owes  to  the  immij,'rant  not  v-^'y  the  ..'•...rf.in't:,- •, 
for  'life.  h"lierty,  and  the  |)':r.Miit  cf  h:j>T':ne-s' 
that  she  promises  to  every  man.  1  ut  a  synpaihetic 
ai)preciati<:n  ui  his  humanity,  and  .-.n  intellii^ent 
assistance  in  deveh  pinjj  ii."' 

This  =     a  i)icture  (  '   i)ro"rcss  in  assimilation   How  the 
to  be  remembered,  and  the  conchision  i.,  achnir-   Children  ;  cad 
ably  expressed.    Assimilation  is  made  ease  when 
the  wheels  of  contact  are  oiled  by  kindness  and 
sympathy.    The  children  lead  the  way  to  Amcri- 
canization.     Mr.  ^randenbnrjj  j:::ives  t'.iis  report 
of  a  conversation  overheard  in  an  Italian  tene- 
ment in  Xew  York,  the  jiarties  hv'w.'^  a  mot!ier. 
father,  and  the  oldest  of  three  daughters:  "Said 
the  mother  in  very  forcible  Tuscan:  'You  sliall 
speak  Italian  and  nothing'  else,  if  I  must  kill  you ; 
for  what  will  your  grandmother  say  when  you 
go  back  to  the  old  country,  if  you  talk  this  pier's 
English?'     'Aw,  g'\/an !     Youse  tink  I'm  goi;i' 
o  talk  dago  'n'  be  called  a  guinea !    Xot  on  ye;;r 
fe.     I'm  'n  American,  I  am,  'n  you  go  'way  back 
n'  sit  down.'    The  mother  evident!}-  understood 
^e  repiv  'acII  enough,  for  she  poured  forth  a 
-     •'*  of  Italian,  and  then  the  fath    •  ended  mat- 
y   saying  in  mixed   Italian  and   Eng'ish: 

it  up.  both  of  you.     I  v.  sh  T  spoke  English 
iir  e  the  children  do.'    Many  parents  have  learned 

'Ku     S.  Clat'hom,  in  Charities  for  December,  1904. 


2C\0 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Tha  Younf 
AmtriMO 


pood  Enjjlish  in  order  to  escap*?  being  laufifhed 
at  or  despised  by  their  children."' 

The  language  is  not  classic,  but  it  i^  th&*  o' 
real  life  such  as  these  children  have  to  enaure. 
The    rapidity    with    which    foreigners    become 
Americanized  is  illustrated,  said  Dr.  Charles  U. 
Spahr,  by  the  experience  of  a  gentleman  in  Bos- 
ton.    In  his  philanthror"     work  he  had  gotten 
quite  a  hold  on  the  Ita    ;  i  population.    A  small 
boy  once  asked  him:  '\fvie  you  a  Protestant?" 
He  said  "Yes,"  and  the  boy  seemed  disappointed. 
But  presently  he  brightened  up  and  said,  "You 
are  an  American,  aren't  you?"     "Yes."     "So 
am    I!'     with    satisfaction.      Giildren    become 
American  to  the  extent  that  they  do  not  like  to 
have  it  known  that  they  have  foreign  parents. 
One  little  girl  of  German  parentage  said  of  her 
teacher:  "She's  a  lady— she  can't  speak  Germ.an 
at  all."    Where  assimilation  is  slow,  it  is  quite 
as  likel      o  oe  the  fault  of  the  natives  as  of  the 
immigr?     s,   much   more   likely,    indeed.      How 
can  lie  learn  American  ways  who  is  carefully  and 
r  dely  excluded  from  them?  We  build  a  Chinese 
wal!    of    exclusiveness    around    ourselves,    our 
churches,  and  communities,  and  then  blame  the 
foreigner  for  not  forcing  his  way  within. 

In  a  thoughtful  treatment  of  this  whole  sub- 
ject. Mr.  Sidney  Sampson  says  :^ 


'Broughton  Brandenburg.  Imported  Americans,  lo. 
'Sidney  Sampson,  pamphlst,  "  The  Immigration  Problem.'! 


Immigration  and  Xational  Characltr    2U1 

"It  has  become  a  pii  >  inp  ar'l  anxious  question   Tht  Re>i 
whether   American    institu     ns.    with    all    tIi.i.    Q"""°« 
flexibility  and  their  facility  oi  application  to  new 
social   conditions,    will   crmtinue   to  endure   the 
strain  put  upon  them  by  the  rapid  and  ceaseless 
introduction   of   foreign   elements,   imuscd,   and 
wholly  unused  in  great  measure,  to  a  system  of 
government  radically  differing  from  that  under 
which    they    have    been    educated.      Can    these 
diverse  elements  be  brought   to   work   in   har- 
mony with  the  .America-;  Idea?     The  centuries 
of  subjection  to  absolutism,  or  even  despotism,  to 
which  the  ancestors  of  many  of  the  immigrant 
classes  have  been  accustomed,  has  formed  a  type 
of  political  character  which  cannot,  except  after 
long  training,  be  brought  into  an  understanding 
of,   and   sympathy   with,   republican   principles. 
This  is  by  far  the  most  important  aspect  of  tiie 
question,  much  more  so  than  que^iions  of  indus- 
trial competition." 

If  the  republic  will  not  ultimately  endure  harm, 
he  believes  industrial  questions  will  slowly  but 
surely  right  themselves ;  if  otherwise,  none  even 
of  the  wisest  can  foresee  the  result.  We  give  his 
conclusion ; 

"What  is  to  be  the  outcome  of  this  movement   OptimUm  the 
of  the  nations  upon  American  politicc.1  and  indus-   ^"^  ^'*'' 
trial  life  is  a  question  which  confronts  us  with  a 
problem  never  before  presented  in  the  world's 
history.    Upon  a  review  of  the  entire  situation  I 


262 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


think  we  may  be  optimists.    Notwithstanding  all 
unfavorable  features,  there  are  antagonizing  ele- 
ments constantly  at  work,  not  the  less  potent 
because   they    work   silently.      We   may   attach 
undue  importance  to  statistics  merely.    We  may 
not  sufficiently  observe  the  influences — in  fact, 
the  immigrant  may  not  himself  be  conscious  uf 
them— which  year  after  year  tend  to  adjust  his 
habits  of  thought  and  his  political   views  and 
actions  to  his  new  environment.     Freedom  of 
AMimiuting   suffrage,  educational  advantages,   improved  in- 
dustrial  conditions,    the   dignity   of   citizenship, 
equal    laws,    protection    of    property — all    these 
nourish   in   him  an   increasing   respect   for  the 
American  system ;  and  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that,  under  proper  legislation,  the  combined  influ- 
ence of  all  these  will  in  the  long  run  fully  neutral- 
ize the  distinctly  unfavorable  results  of  future 
immigration." 

With  this  we  are  in  accord,  provided  the  Chris- 
tian people  of  America  can  be  brought  to  see  and 
do  their  whole  duty  by  the  aliens.  The  solution 
of  the  problem  demands  the  combined  forces  of 
our  educational,  social,  political,  and  evangelical 
life.  In  that  solution  is  involved  the  destiny  of 
ultimate  America. 


2. 


Immigration  and  National  Character    263 

QUESTIONS  FOR  CHAPTER  VII 

Aim:  To  Realize  the  Effect  of  Immigration  Upon 
THE  National  Character  and  Our  Individual 
Responsibility  for  Improving  Conditions 

I.    Reasons  for  Concern. 

I.*  Do  you  think  that  immigration  makes  a  very 
serious  problem  for  the  United  States?  Why? 
Mention  others  who  think  differently,  Wliy  do 
you  not  agree  with  them? 
Are  there  any  foreigners  in  your  neighbor- 
hood? What  are  they  and  what  can  you  do 
for  them? 

Do  these  immigrants  long  retain  their  foreign 
aspect  and  ways?  In  what  respects  do  thvy 
change  most  quickly? 

What  does  Professor  Mayo-Smith  say  about 
keeping  American  ideals  intact?  Must  Protest- 
ant  Christianity   be  guarded? 

II.  Thrcateninf;   Changes. 

5-  In  what  respects  has  immigration  since  i8_'o 
introduced    un-American    standards? 

6.*  Have  the  average  character  and  the  plane  of 
living  of  the  immigrants  been  raised  or  low- 
erc.'l  by  their  ccnii-.s  here?  Same  as  to 
wages?     As   to   imclli-L-.ice? 

7.*  How  arc  our  public  sciKUils  affected?  Is  there 
any  menace  to  our  school  system?  Can  we 
provide  compulsory  education  for  all  the  chil- 
dren? 

III.  Other  Effects. 

8.  Do  these  new  .Americans  learn  to  use  the  ballot 
rightly?     Can  they  learn? 


4- 


264 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


9-  Does  their  coming  make  genuine  Christianity 
more  or  less  prominent  in  the  n:.;ional  life? 
What  effect  does  it  have  on  Sunday  observ- 
ance?   Does  it  lessen  or  increase  lawbreaking? 

IV.    National  Bulwarks. 

10.  What  are  the  safeguards  pointed  out  by 
Professor  Boyesen?    By  President  Seelye? 

11.  How  can  Socialism  be  met? 

12.*  Will  anything  but  Christianity  effectively 
guard  our  institutions? 

13.  How  far  will  material  improvements  help  to 
uplift  and  assimilate  the  newcomers? 

14.  Do  the  children  learn  patriotism  from  their 
new  country?  Do  they  keep  it  when  grown 
up? 

15*  Is  there  good  reason  for  being  optimistic? 
Upon  what  condition  may  we  be  hopeful  ? 

References  for  Advanced  Study.— Chapter  VII 

I.    Study  further  some  of  the  specific  effects  of  the 
immigrants'   presence. 
Wame:  The  Slav  Invasion,  V,  VI. 
Wood :  Americans  in  Process,  VII,  VIII. 
Riis :  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  XVIII,  XXI. 
What  can  you  learn  about  the  present  status  of  the 
parochial    school    movement,    especially    in    your 
own   vicinity  ? 

Refer  to   local  periodicals   and  daily   papers. 
Is  assimilation  of  foreigners  taking  place  every- 
where, or  only  in  certain  places? 
McLanahan:  Our  People  of  Foreign  Speech,  I. 
Hall:  Immigration,  i'/2,  182. 
Wood:  Americans  in  Process,  XII. 
Strong:   The  Twentieth   Century  City,   IV. 


II. 


III. 


Immigration  and  National  Character    265 

IV.  Are  our  school  facilities,  actual  or  prospective, 
likely  to  prove  sufficient  for  the  demands  made 
upon  them? 

Riis:  How  the  Other  Half  Lives,  XV,  XVI. 
Wood:    Americans    in    Process,    X. 
Hunter:  Poverty,  V. 


I 


The  Christian  Churches  in  America 
stand  face  to  face  with  a  tremendous 
task.  It  is  a  challenge  to  their  faith, 
their  devotion,  their  seal.  The  accom- 
plishment of  it  ivill  mean  not  only  the 
ascendancy  of  Christianity  in  tlie  home- 
land, but  also  the  aaining  of  a  position 
of  lantagc  for  world-zvidc  evangelization. 
— E.  E.  Chivers,  D.D. 


VIII 
THE  HOME  MISSION  OPPORTUNITY 


267 


_^'^f|^  ■■ 


Millions  for  art!  Millions  for  museums!  Millions 
for  libraries!  Millions  for  education!  Men  of  God, 
millions  for  America's  evangelization  I  Why  not?— 
Henry  L.  Morehouse,  D.D. 

The  question  of  supreme  interest  to  us  is  the  religious 
question.  What  share  shall  the  Church  have  in  making 
Christian  Americans  of  these  immigrants?  How  may 
Church  and  State  work  together  for  the  solution  of  the 
problem,  on  the  solution  of  which  very  largely  the 
future  prosperity  of  the  State  and  the  Church  depends.— 
Charles  L.   Thompson,  D.D. 

The  future  success  of  missions  will  be  largely  affected 
by  the  success  of  the  Church  in  dealing  with  problems 
that  lie  at  her  very  door.  The  connection  between  home 
and  foreign  missionary  work  is  living.  The  conversion 
of  the  world  is  bound  up  with  the  national  character 
of  professedly  Christian  XAmli.—Rcv.  Herbert  Anderson, 
English  Missionary  in  India. 

"The   blood   of   the    people!    changeless    tide   through 
century,  creed,  and  race, 

Still  one,  as  the  sweet  salt  sea  is  one,  though  tempered 
by  sun  and  place. 

The  same  in  ocean  currents  and  the  same  in  sheltered 
seas: 

Forever  the   fountain  of  common   hopes  and  kindly 
sympathies. 

Indian  and  Negro,  Saxon  and  Celt,  Teuton  and  Latin 
and  Gaul, 

Mere  surface  shade    and  sunshine,  while  the  sounding 
unifies  all! 

One  love,  one  hope,  one  duty  theirs!  no  matter  tlie 
time  or  kin. 

There  never  was  a  separate  heart-beat  in  all  the  races 
of  men." 

268 


VIII 


THE  HOME  MISSION  OPPORTUNITY 


/.     ^lien  Accessibility 
America   and   you   save   the   world." 


"CAVE 

Through  immigration  the  United  States  is 
in  a  unique  sense  the  most  foreign  country  and  the 
greatest  mission  field  on  the  globe.  "All  peoples 
that  on  earth  do  dwell"  have  here  their  repre- 
sentatives, gathered  by  a  divine  ordering  within 
easy  reach  of  the  gospel.  Through  them  the 
world  may  be  reached  in  turn.  Every  foreigner 
converted  in  America  becomes  directly  or  indi- 
rectly a  missionary  agent  abroad,  spreading 
knowledge  of  the  truth  among  his  kindred  and 
tribe. ^  The  greatness  of  the  opportunity  is  the 
measure  of  obligation.  God's  message  to  this 
nation  has  been  thus  interpreted:  "Here  are  all 
these  people:  I  have  taken  them  from  the  over- 
crowded countries  where  they  were  living  and 
sent  them  to  you,  that  you  may  mass  your  forces 
and  lend  a  hand  to  save  them."  No  such  oppor- 
tunity ever  came  to  a  nation  before.    The  Giris- 

'FuyiR  Yuet  Mow,  Chinese  missionarv  in  New  York,  says  that  at 
a  rmssionary  Conference  which  he  attended  in  Canton  there  were  fifty 
missionaries  present,  native  Chinese,  and  half  of  them  were  converted 
in  our  missions  in  America,  and  returned  home  to  seek  the  conver- 
sion of  their  people.  Evcrj'where  he  met  the  influence  of  Chinese 
who  found  Christ  in  this  country. 

269 


A  Unique 
Misvloa  Field 


270 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Ooipel 
the  Chief 
Factor 


Shall  America 
be  kept 
Christian 


tian  church  must  seize  it  or  sink  into  deserved 
decadence  and  decay.  Only  a  missionary  church 
can  save  the  world  or  justify  its  own  existence. 
The  manner  in  which  American  Christianity 
deals  with  the  religious  problems  of  immigration 
will  decide  what  part  America  is  to  play  in  the 
evangelization  of  the  nations  abroad. 

We  have  now  reached  the  vital  part  of  our 
subject.  We  have  learned  to  discriminate  be- 
tween peoples  and  find  the  good  in  all  of  them. 
We  have  seen  that  assimilation  is  essential  to 
national  soundness  and  strength.  Cut  we  have 
yet  to  -ealize  that  the  most  potential  factor  in 
assimilation  is  not  legislation  or  education  but 
evangelization.  There  is  no  power  like  the  gospel 
to  destroy  race  antipathies,  break  down  the  bars 
of  prejudice,  and  draw  all  peoples  into  unity, 
brotherhood,  and  liberty— that  spiritual  freedom 
wherewith  Christ  makes  free.  When  American 
Protestantism  sees  in  immigration  a  divine  mis- 
sion none  will  discover  in  it  thenceforth  a  human 
menace. 

Marvelous  mission,  involving  the  destiny  of 
free  America.  A  writer  asks,  "Will  New  Eng- 
land be  kept  Christian?"  and  answers,  "That 
depends.  Population  is  greatly  changing.  Immi- 
grants from  all  parts  of  the  world  are  here. 
They  will  continue  to  come.  Unless  they  are 
molded  according  to  the  principles  of  our  reli- 
gion, they  will  greatly  increase  the  irreligious 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        271 

elements  of  New  England,  already  too  large. 
There  is  a  religious  basis  in  those  who  come, 
but  it  will  require  an  application  of  religious 
agencies  to  make  them  truly  Christian  citi- 
zens."' Tut  America  in  place  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  'he  question  and  answer  will  be  as 
pertinent.  Shall  America  be  kept  Christian? 
That  depends.  It  depends  upon  what  American 
Christians  do. 

Few  of  the  immigrants  are  evangelical  in  rcli-   i«"nUBr.nt. 
gion.     They  know  nothing  of  our  gospel,  and  j;;^*  ^^•»««'- 
httle  or  nothing  of  the   Bible.     The  religious 
principles   they   have   been    taught   are    totally 
opposed  to  the  spirit  of  our  free  institutions  of 
religion.    They  know  priestly  sovereignty  but  not 
soul  liberty.    They  are  the  creatures  of  a  svstem, 
and  the  system  is  thoroughly  un-American  and 
mimical  to  freedom  of  conscience  and  worship. 
But  thousands  and  ♦ens  of  thousands  of  them 
are  out  of  sorts  with  the  system  and  arc  ready 
for  something  better.2     They  have  lost  faith  in 
their  Church  and  will  lose  it  in  religion  unless 
we  teach  them  the  gospel.     To  accomplish  this 
result  two  persons  must  be  changed— the  immi- 
grant and  the  American.    Alien  assimilation  de- 
pends largely  upon  American  attitude. 

JHenn-  H.  Hamilton  in  the  Home  Mtssionary 
Hi  one  city  in   Massachusetts,   where  therp  nr»   .  ...-  T*_f 
only  fifty  or   sixty  attend    the    Rr^an  Caihn'if^h"-*^-  ^*°','*?* 


2^2 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Two  Tlmaly 
QvMUeas 


The  Alien 
Point  of  View 


Two  questions  confront  us  squarely  as   we 
approach  this  subject.     First,  the  common  one. 
What  do  we  think  of  the  immigrant  ?    And  sec- 
ond, the  less  common  but  not  less  important  one. 
What  does  the  immigrant  think  of  us?    It  will 
do  us  good,  as  .".mericans  and  as  Christians,  to 
consider  both  of  these  frankly.    Honestly,  what 
is  your  attitude  toward  the  ordinary  immigrant  ? 
Do  you  want  him  and  his  family,  if  he  has  one,  in 
your  church?    Do  you  not  prefer  to  have  him 
in  a  mission  by  himself?    W     Id  you  not  rather 
work  for  him  by  proxy  than  with  him  in  person? 
Do  you  not  pull  away  from  him  as  far  as  possible 
if  he  takes  a  seat  next  to  you  in  the  car?    Actual 
contact   is  apt  to  mean  contamination,  germs, 
physical  ills.  M  is  ignorant  and  uncultured.  You 
desire  his  conversion — in  the  mission.    You  wish 
him  well— at  a  convenient  distance.    You  would 
much  more  quickly  help  send  a  missionary  to  the 
Chinese  in  China  than  be  a  missionary  to  a 
Chinaman  in  America,  would  you  not?    Think 
it  over,  Christian,  and  determine  your  personal 
relation  to  the  immigrant.    Is  he  a  brother  mm, 
or  a  necessary  evil  ?    Will  you  establish  a  friendly 
relation  with  h:m,  or  hold  aloof  from  him  ?    Does 
your  attitude  need  to  be  changed  ? 

What,  now,  do  you  suppose  this  "undesirable" 
immigrant  thinks  of  America  and  Protestant 
Qiristianity  ?  What  has  he  reason  to  think,  in 
the   light  of  his  previous   dreams   and  present 


Tlie  liomc  }  ission  Opportunity 


we  think  fai 
treat  him  »t 
come  to  thii;,. 


n-ilizations?  What  <  >cs  Protestant  Cliristianity 
<lo  for  him  from  the  ime  he  reaches  America? 
What  will  he  learn  of  our  free  institutions— in 
the  tenement  slums  or  labor  camps  or  from  the 
"hosses"  who  treat  him  as  cattle— that  will  teach 
him  to  prize  American  citizenship,  desire  reli- 
gious liberty,  or  lead  a  sober,  respectable  life? 
Tf  we  are  in  'Mrnest  ahoir  the  evanjfolization  of 
the  iminisr  im.st  fn     ourselves  in  his  place 

occasionallv  ^ct  his  jx    nt  of  view.     When 

'd  ri^htl)  the  immigrant,  and 
ai  Ch  stian  wise,  he  will  soon 
'f  us  liat  oi.r  religion  is  real, 
and  this  wit'  ,c  a  hvis;  >tep  toward  the  change 
we  desire  h«  •.  to  utidergo.  W^  shall  never  ac- 
complish an  thing  '  ,c  rcali/-  that  the  com- 
ing of  the'^e  aliir.  iUw»ns  is  not  accidental  but 
providentLil 

//.     .1/  ^si/fttary  Bcginninj^s 

The  -it  hums  uch  put  upon  the  immi-  Alien  Ace«MU 
grant  iti  ;hc  neu  vi  ..nm^nt  is  vastly  important  ""*>'  »•  Home 
in    its    effects.  easily    approachable,    if   S"*""  *'""" 

rightly   approann  Mien   accessibility   makes 

home  mission  pu-^sitn.  y.  The  approach  may  not 
at  first  be  on  the  istinctiv  ly  religious  side,  but 
there  is  a  way  of  access  on  -ome  side.  A  living 
gospel  incarnated  in  a  l-N  ing,  loving  man  or 
•woman  is  the  "op«'n  sesame"  to  confidence  first 
and  conversion  afterward.     Make  the  foreigner 


2/4 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


► 


•f 


* 

t 
I 


The  Fir»t 
Touch 


feel  that  you  are  intcrestcc!  in  him  as  a  man,  an 
the  door  is  open  beyond  the  power  of  priestcra 
to  shut  it.  The  priest  may  for  a  time  keep  tl 
Catholic  immigrant  away  from  the  Protestai 
church  but  not  from  the  Protestant  cordialil 
and  sympathy ;  and  if  these  be  shown  it  will  n( 
be  long  before  the  immigrant,  learning  rapidly  i 
think  for  himself,  will  settle  the  church-goin 
according  to  his  own  notion.  A  kind  word  h? 
more  attractive  power  than  a  cathedral.  You  wi 
never  win  an  Italian  as  long  as  you  call  him  c 
think  of  him  as  "dago,"  nor  a  Jew  while  yo 
nickname  him  "sheeny."  The  immigrant  want 
neither  charity  nor  contempt,  hut  a  man's  rccog 
nition  and  rights,  and  when  American  Christian 
give  him  these  he  will  believe  in  their  Chris 
tianity  and  be  apt  to  accept  it  for  himself. 

Home  mission  work  of  a  distinctive  characte 
should  and  does  begin  at  the  point  of  landing  ii 
the  New  World.  At  Ellis  Island,  for  example 
there  au  now  some  thirty  missionaries,  repre 
sending  the  leading  Christian  denominations 
This  gives  proof  of  the  partial  awakening  of  th( 
churches  to  the  importance  of  tiiis  work.  It  i; 
only  of  late  years  that  any  special  attention  ha; 
been  paid  to  the  welfare  of  the  incomers,  eithei 
by  state  or  church.  Now  both  are  seeking  tc 
throw  safeguards  around  the  immigrants  and 
secure  them  a  fair  start.  A  large  room  is  set 
apart  for  the  missionaries  in  the  receiving  build- 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity 


-/3 


ing  at  Ellis  Island,  and  they  perform  a  so:vi<'e 
of  great  good  iKjth  to  the  aliens  and  the  ci'intr-. 
I'irst  impressions  count  tremendously,  and  happy 
is  it  for  the  immiirrant  who  gets  this  initial  im- 
pres  ion  from  contact  with  a  Christian  missionary 
instead  of  a  street  sharper.  ( )nce  put  the  toucli  of 
human  kindness  upon  the  immigrant  and  he  is 
not  likely  to  forget  it.     The  hour  of  homesick- 
ness, of  strangeness  in  a  strange  land,  of  per- 
plexity and  trouble,  is  the  hour  of  hours  when 
sympathy  and  help  come  most  gratefully.     'Ihc 
missionaries  are  on  hand  at  this  critical  junctu-e. 
Thousands  of  immigrants  are  saved  from  falling 
into   bad   hands   and   evil   associations   through 
their  zealous  efforts.     Thousands  are  supplied 
with    copies    of    the    Testament,    the    sick    and 
sorrowful     arc    comforted,     the     rejected     are 
tenderly  ministered  to  in  their  distress,  and  the 
gospel    is   preached    in   the    practical    way    that 
makes   it   a   living   remembrance.      This   is   one 
way  in  which  a  true  and  enduring  assimilation 
is  begun. 

Here  is  a  single  illustration  of  the  unexpected  The  Frait  of 
results  of  this  first  Christian  touch  in  the  new  '*'"'^"" 
world.  One  of  the  women  missionaries  was  very 
kind  to  a  Bohemian  family,  helping  the  father 
find  his  destination  and  get  settled.  At  parting. 
tlie  missionary  gave  him  a  Testament  and  asked 
him  to  read  it  when  in  trouble.  Me  thanked  her 
for  all  her  kindness  to  him  and  his  familv,  and 


276 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


The  Gosptl's 
Pawer 


said  he  would  keep  the  book  for  her  sake.  He 
put  it  away  and  forgot  all  about  it.  One  day  his 
little  girl  got  the  book  and  tore  a  leaf  out.  When 
he  learned  what  she  had  done  he  was  very  angry, 
and  punished  her  for  tearing  the  book,  saying 
that  the  kind  lady  at  Ellis  Island  had  given  it  to 
him,  and  he  had  promised  to  keep  it.  He  threat- 
ened the  child  with  severe  punishment  if  she 
touched  it  again.  "What  is  the  book,  papa?" 
she  asked.  He  said  he  did  not  know  what  it 
was,  but  the  lady  gave  it  to  him,  and  that  was 
enough. 

The  little  girl  kept  asking  about  it  until  at 
length  his  curiosity  was  aroused,  and  he  took  the 
Testament  to  find  out  for  himself.  As  he  began 
to  read  the  story  of  Jesus  he  became  interested, 
and  presently  had  his  wife  reading  it  also.  Such 
wonderful  things  he  had  never  heard  of  before, 
and  he  thought  he  would  tell  the  priest  about  it, 
for  if  the  priest  knew  about  it  he  would  surely  tell 
the  people.  The  priest  forbade  him  to  look  into 
the  book  again,  saying  that  it  was  a  bad  book  and 
would  cost  him  his  soul  if  he  read  it.  This  only 
ended  the  influence  of  the  priest,  for  the  immi- 
grant said  such  a  good  person  as  Jesus  could  not 
do  anybody  any  harm,  he  was  sure  of  that.  He 
decided  to  go  back  to  Ellis  Island  and  ask  the 
kind  lady  about  it.  The  light  came,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  earnest  members  of  a  Christian 
church,  showing  their  gratitude  by  trying  with 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity 


2/7 


true  missionary  spirit  to  brinjr  others  of  their 
race  to  the   Master.' 

This  missionary  work,  coming:  at  the  critical    immigrant 
time,   needs   to  he  extended   and  dij^nified.     It    "•■'»*»"*rter9 
should  be  so  enlarged  that  it  would  be  possible 
to  reach  in  some  way  the  jrreat  mass  of  the  new- 
comers, where  now  it  touches  comparatively  few 
There   should    be   a   great    interdenominational 
headquarters  building,  thoroughly  equipped  for 
every  kmd  of  helpful  service.    A  large  force  of 
tramed  workers  of  different  nationalities  should 
be  employed,  so  that  all  kinds  of  needs  might  be 
met.    It  is  entirely  possible  to  establish  a  center 
that  would    powerfully  impress  the  immigrants 
with  the  worth  and  importance  of  the  Christian 
religion.    But  no  small  affair  will  do.    Our  great 
denominations  have  the  money  in  plenty,   and 
certaihly  have  the  talent  to  organize  such  a  work 
as  the  world  has  never  yet  seen.     And  what  a 
chance  for  personal  service  such  an  institution 
would  afford.     This  would  be  a  living  object 

of  the  denominations  have  houses^tted    «n    fnr   IkL  .         ^'""'" 


278 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Present  Work 
for  the 
Foreigners 


Abandoned 
Fields 


lesson  of  Christianity  helping  the  world,  tha 
might  fitly  stand  beside  the  statue  of  "Liberty  en 
lightening  the  world." 

///.     Protestantism  and  the  Alien 

How  are  the  evangelical  denominations  meet 
ing  their  imperative  obligation  to  evangelize  th( 
multitudes  brought  to  their  very  doors?  Whei 
the  immigrant  has  passed  through  the  gates,  wha 
attention  is  paid  to  him?  Take  it  in  the  center; 
of  population,  where  the  mass  of  the  immigrant; 
go,  and  the  showing  is  not  very  imposing  as  yet, 

The  truth  is  that  as  the  foreigners  have  moved 
into  down-town  New  York  the  old-time  Protes- 
'  mt  churches  have  moved  out,  in  great  measure 
abandoning   the   field,    on   the   assumption   that 
there  was  no  constituency  to  maintain  an  Ameri- 
can church.     It  did  not  seem  to  dawn  upon  the 
rich  churches  which  moved  up  town  that  the 
new  population  needed  evangelization  and  could 
be  evangelized.    The  result  is  that  the  immigrant 
accustomed  to  imposing  ;hurches  and  splendid 
architecture  and  impressive  ritual,  sees  little  to 
impress  him   with   the  existence   of   Protestant 
Christianity.      Go   through   that    teeming   East 
Side  in  New  York,  and  here  and  there  you  will 
find  a  mission  supported  in  desultory  fashion  by 
some  church  or  city  mission  society  or  mission 
board,  and  in  quarters  conducive  to  anything  but 
worship  or  respect.     There  is  nothing  to  make 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity 


279 


the  new  arrival  feel  the  presence  and  power  of 
the  religious  faith  that  created  this  free  Republic 
and  still  predominates  in  its  best  life.  So  it  is 
wherever  you  go.  The  home  mission  work  is  in 
its  beginnings,  and  these  are  manifestlv  feeble 
and  inadequate. 

The  Roman  Catholics  teach  us  some  practi-  AnEx.mpie 
cal  lessons.  They  build  large  and  impres- 
sive churches  for  the  immigrants.  They  abandon 
no  fields,  and  immediately  occupy  those  left  by 
Protestants.  They  expend  money  where  it  will 
go  furthest.  The  Protestants  of  New  York 
should  have  been  far-sighted  enough  to  plant 
strong  evangelistic  and  philanthropic  institutions 
in  the  fields  from  which  they  withdrew  their 
churches,  ^^aluable  ground  has  been  lost  for 
want  of  this  missionary  insight  and  impulse. 

The  conditions  in  New  York  are  symptomatic  Need  of  an 
of  those  obtaining  generally,  in  country  as  well  ^^""""'"^ 
as  city.  The  Protestant  churches,  not  recogniz- 
ing the  supreme  home  mission  opportunity  to 
Cliristianize  the  immigrants,  have  in  many  cases 
become  weak  where  a  zealous  evangelism'  would 
have  kept  them  strong.  Too  many  of  the  Ameri- 
can churches  have  been  satisfied  yith  their  own 
prosperity  and  unmindful  of  the  growing  need 
of  the  gospel  all  around  them.  As  a  missionary 
worker  says  :^  "There  are  plenty  of  Christians 
who  believe  that  the  gospel  is  the  power  of  God 

»  Rev.  Joel  S.  Ives.  paniphU>t.  "The  Foreigner  in  New  England." 


28o 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


ReatODB  for 

Present 

Conditions 


unto  salvation  in  a  vague  and  general  way;  but 
there  are  not  enough  people  who  clearly  believe 
that  the  gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion to  the  Italian  working  on  the  railroad,  or  the 
Hungarian  in  the  shops,  or  the  German  on  the 
farm.  Too  many  of  us  have  no  faith  at  all  in 
foreign  missions  at  home." 

It  is  impossible  to  enter  into  details  of  whal 
has  been  undertaken  by  the  different  evangelica! 
denominations.  Reference  to  the  tables  fur- 
nished by  various  Home  Mission  Boards*  wil 
indicate,  as  far  as  bald  figures  can  do  so,  th< 
extent  of  the  work  among  the  various  peoples 
The  statistics  show  that  in  the  country,  especiall: 
in  the  West,  missions  among  the  earlier  typ< 
of  immigrants— the  German  a  idinavian- 

have  long  been  maintained  with  su.  ess.  Ther 
are  hundreds  of  strong  and  prosperous  churche 
among  these  peoples.  For  the  later  immigrant 
less  has  been  done,  although  the  need  is  fa 
greater.  Some  of  the  reasons  for  the  small  pre 
portions  of  this  work  are  manifest.  In  order  t 
reach  the  Slavs  and  Italians  there  must  be  nativ 
missionaries,  and  these  cannot  be  found  offhanc 
After  converts  are  made,  those  who  are  fitted  t 
preach  and  teach  must  be  trained,  and  schoo! 
must  be  provided  for  the  training.*    The  difficu 


'Appendix  C.  .   •       j 

'Some  denominations  already  have  theological  trammgdepa 
ments  for  foreign  people.  The  Amencan  College  at  tjpr-nghe 
M«»chusetts.  is  thenrst  distinctive  training  school  for  foreigne 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        281 

ties  of  language  must  first  be  overcome.  The 
process  requires  time  and  patience  and  large  re- 
sources. Missions  cannot  be  imposed  upon  these 
foreign  peoples  from  without.  Force  cannot  be 
used.  Access  must  be  found,  and  the  gospel  seed 
be  sown  as  opportunity  occurs.  There  must  be 
a  natural  development  in  a  work  like  this,  which 
deals  with  individuals,  and  that  by  persuasion. 
The  present  work  must  not  be  judged  too 
harshly,  therefore,  as  reflectmg  upon  the 
churches.  Only  of  late  has  the  need  been  recog- 
nized by  the  leaders  in  Christian  effort.  Dr. 
Thompson  puts  the  situation  in  true  light,  when 
he  says: 

"It  goes  without  saying  that  the  church  has  The  Point 
not  so  far  taken  its  full  share  of  the  responsibility.  Departure 
She  has  not  realized  the  gravity  of  the  situation. 
Indeed,  only  in  late  years  has  it  emerged  in  its 
full  significance.  Consequently  the  work  of  the 
various  Christian  bodies  has  been  sporadic,  rather 
than  systematic  and  persistent.  There  has  been 
no  serious  endeavor  to  deal  with  it  as  a  problem 
and  to  try  to  compass  it.  All  the  churches  have 
worked  among  the  foreigners,  but  it  has  been 
determined  by  local  conditions  and  needs  which 
have  appealed  to  Christian  people  here  and  there  ; 
that,  however,  is  very  different  from  an  intelli- 
gent view  of  the  whole  situation  and  a  caiiipatj^n 
intended  and  adapted  to  solve  the  whole  prob- 
lem.   We  have  reached  a  point  in  the  immigra- 


282 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Succcit  of 
Barnctt  Bflbrt 


Tent  Work 
Result*  In  « 
Church 


tion  problem  where  it  must  be  solved  broadly 
philosophically,  and  by  the  combination  of  al 
forces— civic,  social,  moral,  and  religious — tc 
bring  about  the  healthy  assimilation  of  all  foreigi 
elements  into  the  life  of  the  body  politic."^ 

We  have  said  the  foreigner  is  accessible.  Hov 
true  this  is,  when  earnest  and  genuine  effort  i 
made,  is  shown  by  the  tent  work  in  many  cities 
Take  it  among  the  Italians  in  New  York,  fo 
example.    A  tent  worker  tells  the  results  :2 

"New  York  City  within  a  year  will  hold  a  hal 
million  Italians.  What  is  the  Church  of  Am«*rici 
to  do  with  them  ?  Will  they  listen  to  the  gospel 
Who  has  tried  to  reach  them? 

"During  the  past  summer  a  company  o 
earnest  workers  for  God  and  man  teste< 
the  problem  of  saving  men  to  save  Nev 
York.  They  started  an  open-air  and  ten 
campaign.  They  proceeded  on  the  simpl 
hypothesis  that  'Nothing  will  elevate  the  man,  n( 
matter  how  good  he  is  morally,  except  the  gospe 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  it  alone  is  the  power  of  Goi 
to  change  the  whole  man  and  save  him  eternally, 
They  drove  their  tent-stakes  into  the  ground  ii 
an  Italian  quarter  and  began  to  preach  and  ti 
sing  the  gospel  of  grace  triumphant  into  the  ear 
and  hearts  of  Roman  Catholic  Italians.  Excep 
when  the  weather  was  exceptionally  bad,  fror 

*  "The  ForeiRTi  Problem."    Published  by  the  Presbyterian  Boa: 
of  Home  Missions. 

'Rev.  F.  H.  Allen,  in  Home  Missionary  for  January,  1906. 


)roadly, 

of  all 

ous — to 

foreign 
"1 

e.  How 
;ffort  is 
y  cities. 
)rk,  for 

2 

d  a  half 
^mTica 
gospel? 

any    of 
tested 
e    New- 
id    tent 

simple 
man,  no 
J  gospel 

of  God 
srnally.' 
ound  in 

and  to 
the  ears 

Except  i 
:1,  froin 

rian  Board 
906. 


i 


The  Monie  Mission  Opportunity        29>^ 


y 
■7. 
y 


five  to  six  Iv.indred  persons  were  there  nightly. 
Tliey  were  met  just  as  the  foreijjn  missionary 
would  meet  them.  Xot  one  amonjj  them,  per- 
haps, Christian  from  a  purely  evanj^elistic  stand- 
point, and  }et.  what  was  the  result?  In  less  than 
one  year  they  expect  to  have  a  permanent  church 
building  to  cost  $'')o.ooo;  something  like  two  hun- 
dred are  ready  to  enter  and  form  a  Protestant 
church." 

Is  this  a  hopeful  work,  this  effort  to  evangelize  An  ingenious 
the  foreigners?  Let  the  following  uni(|ue  in-  jent'"  *''* 
stance  give  its  answer,  and  illustrate  also  the 
intertwininp^s  of  the  home  and  foreign  work. 
In  a  quarry  at  Monson.  Massachusetts,  where 
over  three  hundred  Italians  are  employed,  there 
was  among  the  number  a  man  who  had  been  con- 
verted in  Italy,  through  the  faithful  efforts  of  an 
American  missionary.  When  this  convert 
reached  the  Massachusetts  quarry,  his  heart 
burned  within  him  as  he  realized  the  spiritual 
condition  of  his  countrymen,  who  were  living 
without  any  religious  services.  He  laboretl  so 
effectively  for  their  salvation  that  in  a  few 
months  seventeen  of  the  workmen  were  con- 
verted, and  they  held  regular  meetings  for  prayer 
and  study  of  the  Bible.  At  length  they  sent  a 
message,  signed  by  every  convert,  to  a  state  mis- 
sionary society:  "In  God's  name,  send  us  a  mis- 
sionary." A  missionary  was  sent  to  organize 
them  int^  a  church.    They  had  no  meeting-place. 


284 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


How  to  8av« 

Our  American 
Churches 


and  in  this  emergency  one  of  the  converts  pro- 
posed that  a  room  be  built  on  the  roof  of  hi^i 
cottage.  This  was  done  by  the  little  band,  and 
there  they  worshiped  until  the  place  was  ton 
siiuill.  Then  the  first  story  was  extended  in  the 
rear,  giving  space  for  a  comfortable  chapel,  and 
the  family  occupied  the  second  story  or  roof- 
room.  This  indicates  the  it  i^enuity  as  well  as  the 
generous  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  these 
Italian  Christians,  who  maintain  a  regular  pas- 
tor and  full  services.  How  many  of  our  Ameri- 
caTi  churches,  with  much  'arger  resources,  could 
show  a  better  record  ?  What  American  Christian 
would  have  thought  of  building  a  meeting-house 
on  his  home  roof,  or  would  have  been  willing  to 
do  it  if  he  had  thought  of  it?  In  devotion  and 
liberality  the  converted  aliens  often  set  noble 
examples  for  American  Christians.* 

IF.     The  Call  to  Great  Things 

Missionaries  have  been  surprised  at  the  eager- 
ness  with    which   they   were   received   by   the 

*Rev.  C.  W.  Shelton  reports  typical  cases,  that  could  be  dupli- 
cated by  every  secretary  of  a  Home  Missionary  Society  and 
every  missionary.  In  one  mission  church  a  young  Swede  pirl  gave 
*2S  a  month,  out  of  her  eaminf^s  as  cook,  toward  the  pastor's  sup- 
port. In  a  Finnish  church,  another  younj?  woman  pledged  $30  a 
month  out  a  salary  of  $50.  A  Chinese  mission  in  California  support  - 
three  native  workers  in  China.  A  Slav  Mission  Sunday-school  in 
Braddock,  Pennsylvania,  with  thirty  members,  gave  out  of  its 
poverty,  as  one  year's  record,  $6  for  home  missions,  $1.25  for  window? 
in  a  new  Bohemian  church,  $i  for  missionary  schools,  $6.35  for 
maps,  and  $6  for  a  foreign  missionary'  ship.  Nearly  fifty  cents  a 
member  these  Slavs  gave;  and  that  amount  per  member  from  all 
Christian  churches  and  Stmday-schools  would  make  the  missionary 
treasuries  much  fuller  than  at  present. 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        285 

Italians,  Bohemians.  Poles.  Slovaks,  and  Lithuan- 
ians,  and   others   commonly   regarded   as   most 
hopeless.     The  Bohemians  have  a  larfje  numtKT 
of   freethinkers — over   300  societies   of   them— 
who  have  sought  to  draw  their  people  away  from 
C^hristianity  or  any  form  of  religion;  but  they 
also  have  a  large  number  of  earnest  and  devoted 
Christian  converts,  who  know  the  power  of  the 
gospel  to  save,  and  are  preaching  and  teaching  it. 
In  Pennsylvania,  among  the  Slav  peoples,  simple- 
hearted  native  workers  who  have  found  the  way 
of  life  are  making  that  way  known  to  others, 
and  local  churches  in  many  places  are  becoming 
revived  through  their  active  work  for  these  for- 
eigners.    Many  churches  now  extinct  would  be 
alive    if   they   had   seen   their  opportunity.      If 
those  churches  that  have  lost  most  of  their  old- 
time  membership  could  be  filled  with  missionary 
zeal,  and  be  sustained  as  evangelistic  c     lers.  the 
church  life  of  the  mining  regions  would  become 
a  different  thing  once  more.     The  only  way  to 
save  these  American  churches  is  for  them  to  save 
the  immigrants.     The  same  thing  is  true  in  all 
country    sections    where    the    foreigners    have 
become  numerous.    The  need  everywhere  is  for 
money  to  plant  and  equip  thoroughly        I  main- 
tain  efficiently,   these  eva-      J'zing  churches   in 
every  community.     These   instituti         must  be 
more  than  meeting-houses,  open  a  few  times  a 
week. 


MiMioaary 
Effort  th« 
Solution 


^86 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Oriat 

Wlition  Kb- 
t>'-   ritt 


Church  Feder- 
ation for 
Service 


The  institutional  church  always  open,  will 
something  to  meet  every  legitimate  need  o 
old  ami  young,  so  that  the  evangelical  centci 
shall  be  the  ccn \r  of  community  life,  can  alon* 
meet  the  requirement.  A  great  force  of  worker; 
must  be  raised  up,  and  this  means  training; 
schools.  No  more  important  educational  worV 
can  be  done  in  our  country  in  the  present  cmcr 
gency.  These  schools  might  be  interdenomina 
tional.  with  special  classes  where  required  for  th» 
specific  denominational  training,  and  thus  a  unitec 
Protestantism  could  be  rallied  to  their  support 
and  make  them  of  size  sufficient  to  impress  al 
with  the  real  consequence  of  the  work  . 

In  this  work  the  interdenominational  comit} 
and  cooperation  represented  in  the  federation  o; 
evangelical  churches  would  secure  the  best  cov 
ering  of  the  whole  field,  in  the  true  fraternal  ant 
Christian  spirit.  What  all  desire  supremely  is  tlu 
salvation  of  the  immigrants.  And  only  a  unitet 
Protestantism  can  present  such  a  massive  from 
as  to  impress  the  world.  This  work  must  bt 
large  enough  to  be  self-respecting.  At  present 
it  is  extremely  doubtful  if  there  is  enough  of  it 
to  make  individual  members  of  the  churches  fee: 
its  worth  and  importance.  There  should  be  a 
mighty  advance  movement,  calling  for  millions 
of  money  and  thousands  of  missionaries,  and 
reaching  into  a  multitude  of  places  now  destitute 
of  gospel  influences.    Then  the  alien  in  America 


A  Million  a 
Year  in  New 
York 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        JS7 

would  realize  the  American  spirit  and  purpose 
and  interest  in  him,  and  the  birth  of  a  new  citi- 
zenship would  l>e|;i:in. 

This  is  the  day  of  largje  enterprises.  The  home  Planning 
mission  movement  for  the  evangelization  of  the  *••''• ''^»''"«* 
foreign  peoples  in  America  oujjht  to  be  in  the 
forefront  of  the  ,q:rcat  enterprises.  The  real  hope 
of  America  lies  in  the  success  of  this  work.  The 
best  brain  of  the  Christian  laity  should  be 
cnj?aged  in  this  business. 

In  New  York  City  alone  the  Christian  denomi- 
nations ought  to  raise  and  expend  at  least  a 
million  dollars  a  year  for  the  next  ten  years 
;  for  city  foreign  evangelization,  and  this  would 
be  only  a  start  in  a  work  bound  to  extend 
indefinitely.  The  demand  is  imperat'>  ,  ne 
fields  are  ripe  for  harvest.  We  I  ..  s.  n 
that  the  old  religious  ties  are  not  only  ,  .' ;  •,' 
by  the  /  tlantic  voyage,  but  often  broke  '  , 
gether.  ..»  some  nationalities  this  tie  is  strong, 
in  most  of  them  not  very  binding.  The  great 
hulk  of  the  new  immigration  is  Roman  or  Greek 
Catholic.  Thousands  of  these  nominal  church 
members  drift  into  open  infidelity  or  schools  of 
atheism,  or  else  into  nothingism.  Their  former 
Church  does  not  keep  them,  and  IVotestantism 
does  not  get  them.  It  is  a  question  whether  Uieir 
new  condition  is  better  or  worse,  religiously,  than 
it  was  in  the  old  country.  W'c  should  remove 
that   question  by   surrounding  them   with   such 


288 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


h 


How  to  Use 
Wealth  for 
Country 


A  Work 
for  United 
Protestantism 


Christian  influences  and  institutions  as  will  make 
it  impossible  for  them  to  escape  the  Americaniz- 
ing and  evangelizing  environment.  Why  shouk! 
not  Christian  philanthropy,  for  instance,  build 
a  block  of  model  tenement-houses  in  the  Italian 
district,  and  give  the  income  from  rentals  as  a 
l)ermanent  endowment  for  Italian  mission  work? 
This  would  be  a  double  blessing. 

There  is  a  magnificent  opportunity,  an  oppor- 
tunity to  fire  the  heart  of  the  men  who  have 
means  to  carry  out  whatever  they  devise.  The 
evangelical  tlenominations  should  establish  in  the 
heart  of  the  East  Side,  where  are  gathered  a 
dozen  little  nationalities,  not  simply  one  great 
establishment  of  distinctively  religious  and  educa- 
tional character,  but  a  number  of  such  institu- 
tional churches,  costing  anywhere  from  a  million 
to  a  million  and  a  half  each,  and  sustained  in  a 
thoroughly  business-like  way.  Christianity  should 
permeate  the  entire  work.  We  ought  to  be 
working  for  to-day  and  for  the  future.  The 
Home  Mission  Jioards  in  cooperation  should  be 
asked  to  lead  forward  in  this,  the  greatest  task 
of  the  twentieth  century.  There  is  nothing  senti- 
mental or  impracticable  about  these  suggestions. 

Here  is  a  work  that  demands  the  moral 
strength  of  Protestant  union.  Let  us  seek 
to  make  the  foreigners  Christian,  give  them 
the  Bible,  and  set  them  an  example  of  the 
brotherhood  of  believers.    Then  the  immigrants 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        289 


believers    and    join    the    brother- 


What  the 
Local  Church 
Can  Do 


will    become 
hood. 

In  addition  to  this  organized  work  done 
through  the  missionary  bodies,  there  is  a  large 
work  for  local  churches  to  do.  In  some  denomi- 
nations, which  report  little  organized  effort,  there 
is  much  mission  woik  done  by  local  parishes. 
And  in  all  denominations  there  are  many 
churches  that  study  their  community  and 
apply  themselves  to  its  needs.  The  Chinese  Sun- 
day-school work  has  been  chiefly  done  by  the 
local  churches,  and  therefore  it  is  not  easy  to 
learn  the  extent  oi  the  work,  since  reports  are  not 
made  to  central  boards.  This  form  of  service  is 
especially  desirable  when  it  draws  the  members 
of  the  churches  to  any  extent  into  personal  con- 
tact with  the  foreign  element,  and  it  should  be 
fostered. 

V.     The  Individual  Duty 

This  brings  us  to  the  heart  of  the  whole  matter  What  You 
—the  personal  equation.  The  trouble  is  that  the  ^^^  ^^ 
alien  and  the  American  do  not  know  each  other. 
Aversion  on  the  one  side  is  met  by  suspicion  on 
the  other.  Shut  away  from  intercourse,  the  alien 
becomes  more  alienated,  and  the  American  more 
opinionated,  with  results  that  may  easily  breed 
trouble.  The  antidote  for  prejudice  is  knowl- 
edge. Immigration  has  made  it  possible— and  in 
this  case  possibility  is  duty— for  the  consecrated 


290 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Be  •  Home 
Misaionary 


A  Personal 
Service 


Christian,  in  this  day  and  land  of  marvelous  op 
portunity,  to  be  a  missionary — not  by  proxy  bin 
in  person. 

Here  is  the  foreigner  in  every  community 
You  meet  him  in  a  hundred  places  whert 
the  oersonal  contact  is  possible.  Did  it  evei 
occur  to  you  that  you  could  do  something: 
directly  for  the  evangelization  of  the  Greek  oi 
Italian  fruit  vender  or  bootblack  or  laborer' 
Have  you  ever  felt  any  responsibility  for  the  sal 
vation  of  these  commonly  despised  foreigners: 
Have  you  laughed  at  them,  or  shown  your  con 
tempt  and  dislike  for  them  as  they  have  crovvdec 
the  public  places?  The  evangelization  of  th( 
foreigners  in  America  must  be  effected  by  the 
direct  missionary  effort  of  the  masses  oi 
American  Christians.  That  is  the  founda- 
tion truth.  The  work  cannot  be  delegatet 
to  Home  Mission  Boards  or  any  other  agencies 
no  matter  how  good  and  strong  m  theii 
place. 

Hence,  let  all  emphasis  be  put  here  upon 
personal  responsibility  and  opportunity.  Be  a 
missionary  yourself.  Reach  and  teach  som€ 
one  of  these  newcomers,  and  you  will  do  your 
part.  Do  not  begin  with  talking  about  religion. 
Make  the  chance  to  get  acquainted;  then 
after  you  have  shown  genuine  human  inter- 
est, and  won  confidence,  the  way  will  be  open  for 
the  gospel  that  has  already  been  feit  in  human 


upon 
Be  a 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        291 

helpfulness.  As  a  result  of  this  study,  which  has 
taught  you  to  discriminate  and  to  be  charitable 
to  all  peoples,  the  new  attitude  and  sympathy  will 
enable  you  to  approach  those  who  have  been 
brought  within  your  sphere  of  influence.  There 
is  a  field  of  magnificent  breadth  open  to  our 
young  people.  Once  engaged  in  this  personal 
service,  anr'  aware  of  its  blessed  eflfects,  there 
will  be  no  lack  of  a  missionary  zeal  that  will 
embrace  the  world-wide  kingdom. 

At  a  conference  in  New  York,  in  the  Home   a  shining 
Mission  study  class  a  young  colored  man  from   ^""p'""' 

1       wr  T      1-  ^  o  Personal 

the  West  Indies  gave  a  practical  illustration  of  Effort 
individual  missionary  effort  of  the  kind  that 
would  evangelize  the  foreigners,  if  it  were  gener- 
ally practiced.  He  said  that  every  Thursday, 
when  the  steamer  from  the  West  Indies  i  .ives, 
he  arranges  his  work  so  as  to  be  at  the  wharf, 
ready  to  welcome  immigrants,  especially  young 
people,  and  to  advise  them,  if  they  are  strangers 
without  settled  destination.  He  was  led  to  do 
this  by  his  own  experience.  For  three  years 
after  he  came  to  New  York,  he  went  from  church 
to  church  without  ever  receiving  a  v.'ord  of  wel- 
come or  invitation  to  come  again.  Finally  he 
found  a  church  home ;  but  the  homesickness  and 
loneliness  of  those  ye;.rs  made  him  feel  that  so  far 
as  he  could  help  it,  no  on«  else  from  the  West 
Indies  should  have  a  similar  experience.  So  he 
made  himself  free  to  speak  to  the  young  men,  and 


292 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


A  Call  for 
Sacrifice 


The  Living 
Example 


always  invited  them  to  church.  lie  had  been  tli 
means  of  aiding  many  to  establish  themselve 
and  had  saved  irany  immigrants  from  bein 
lured  away  into  evil.  He  said  the  place  to  get  tli 
heart  of  the  foreigner  was  when  he  first  landec 
It  was  a  simple  story,  told  without  any  fals 
modesty.  Plainly  his  heart  was  in  the  work.  H 
was  a  home  missionary,  doing  a  definite  servic 
of  importance,  and  setting  an  example  that  ir 
i.pired  that  company.  They  could  not  help  th 
round  of  applause  that  followed  his  statemen*^  ] 
was  spontaneous.  This  is  the  personal  touc 
that  must  be  put  in  some  way  upon  the  strange 
that  is  within  our  gates.  If  the  alien  can  b 
brought  under  this  gracious  Christian  influenci 
the  chances  are  many  that  he  will  soon  cease  t 
be  alien  and  bet  -me  Christian.  Blessed  is  he  wh 
makes  any  soul  welcome  to  country  and  churcl 

A  call  to  home  mission  service  i?  thus  pn 
sented  by  Dr.  Goodchild,  who  would  carry  rel 
gion  more  fully  into  the  settlement  idea:  "\V 
need  for  the  solution  of  this  problem  that  youn 
men  and  women  who  go  to  the  great  cities  fror 
the  strong  churches  of  the  smaller  towns  an 
villages  should  identify  themselves  with  missio 
churches  rather  than  to  seek  ease  and  honor  i 
wealthy  churches  where  unused  talent  is  alread 
congested. 

We  need  young  mtn  and  young  wome 
to    go    down    among    these    people    and    liv 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        2[)^ 

Christian  lives  in  the  midst  of  them.  I  do  not 
believe  that  any  one  should  take  his  children  there 
to  rear  them.  But  young  men  in  groups,  or 
young  women  in  groups,  or  young  couples  with- 
out children,  who  are  able  to  earn  their  own  liv- 
ing could  contribute  greatly  to  the  solution  of 
these  problems  if  they  would  live  among  these 
foreigners  and  help  in  the  process  of  digestion 
and  assimilation.  And  there  is  nothing  that  can 
do  that  work  so  quickly  and  tfifectually  as  for 
Christian  men  and  women  to  dwell  among  these 
people,  as  Christ  once  left  His  home  on  high  to 
dwell  among  the  sinful  ones  of  earth.  And  if 
there  are  young  men  and  young  women  who  are 
willing  to  give  themselves  wholly  to  work  for 
these  people,  and  will  live  among  them,  and  seek 
by  the  power  of  divine  grace  to  lift  them  up,  it 
surely  if  very  little  for  you  and  me  to  sustain 
them  while  they  toil." 

Wherever  earnest  effort  has  been  put  forth, 
tii.  ^  -ogress  of  the  work  has  been  most  encoura- 
ging. As  an  illustration  of  this,  when  Dr.  A.  F. 
Schauffler  some  twenty  years  ago  began  his 
pioneer  missionary  work  among  the  25,000 
Bohemians  of  Cleveland,  he  could  not  learn  of 
any  fellow-laborers  in  the  Slavic  field  except  a 
Bohemian  theological  student  in  New  York,  a 
Bohemian  Reformed  Church  pastor  in  Iowa,  and 
another  in  Texas,  But  in  1905  there  met  in  Chi 
cago    an    Interdenominational     Conference    of 


How  the 
Work  Growa 


294 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


h 


Inspiring 
Difficulties 


Slavic  missionaries  and  pastors,  and  that  gathe 

ing  comprised  no  less  than  103  Slavic  worker 

of  whom  sixty-four  were  pastors  and  preacher 

fourteen    wo  len   missionaries,   and    twenty-fi^ 

missionary  students ;  while  the  conference  repr 

sented  forty-nine  churches  in  thirteen  states,  ar 

five  evangelical  denominations.     Mr.   Ives  sa^ 

truly:  "It  has  been  forever  established  that  fo 

eigners  are  as  convertible  as  our  own  people,  th; 

in  many  instances  their  faith  is  more  pure  an 

evangelical  than  the  American  type,  that  the 

lives  are  transformed  by  its  power  to  an  extei 

that  sometimes  puts  the  American  Christian  l 

shame,  that  their  children  are  easily  gatherc 

into    Sunday-schools,    ti^eir    young   people    int 

Endeavor  Societies,  and  t'leir  men  and  wome 

into  prayer-meetings,   where  i.i  many  differci 

tongues  they  yet  speak  and  pray  in  the  langua.q 

of  Canaan.    The  immigration  problem  is  not  th 

same  menace  that  it  was.    A  mighty  solvent  ha 

been  found." 

There  is  no  escaping  the  fact  that  a  prodigiou 
amount  of  difficult  lifting  must  be  done  in  ordc 
to  elevate  the  aliens  to  the  American  social  am 
religious  level.  Rut  the  very  vastness  of  th 
home  mission  task  is  inspiring  rather  than  dis 
couraging  to  heroic  souls.  As  someone  savs 
"The  American  loves  a  tough  job."  Difficultie: 
will  not  hinder  him  a  moment  when  once  he  i; 
moved  with  the  divine  impulse,  sees  the  thin^ 


The  Home  ^fission  Opportunity        295 

to  be  done,  and  sets  himself  with  God's  help  to  do 
it.  Present  conditions  call  to  mind  that  passage 
in  "Alice  in  Wonderland,"  where  by  the  seashore 

The  walrus  and  the  carpenter  were  walkfng  hand  in 

hand. 
And  wept  like  anything  to  see  such  quantities  of  sand. 
"!f  seven  maids  with  seven  mops,  swept  it  for  half  a 

year, 
Do  you  suppose,"  the  walrus  said,  "that  they  could  get 

it  clear?" 
"I  doubt  it,"  said  the  carpenter,  and  shed  a  bitter  tear. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  what  has  been  done.  ^  Hopeful, 
in  comparison  with  what  has  to  be  done,  would  IJ.^^^^'p*'*"' 
not  be  unfairly  represented  by  the  seven  maids, 
and  that  some  people  think  the  conversion  of  the 
foreigner  as  hopeless  as  the  carpenter  did  the 
sand-sweeping  job.  But  seven  mops  are  better 
than  none,  and  the  pessimists  are  few.  Souls  are 
different  material  to  work  upon  from  sand.  By 
and  by  the  Christian  denominations  will  stop 
sweeping  around  the  edges  of  this  great  mission- 
ary enterprise,  and  take  hold  of  it  with  a  large 
spirit.  This  will  come  to  pass  when  the  real  con- 
ditions and  needs  and  perils  are  widely  known; 
and  in  making  them  known  the  young  people 
iiave  their  opportunity  to  render  signal  service 
to  foreigner,  country,  church,  and  Christ. 

VI.     Basal  Grounds  for  Optimism 
Xow  that  we  have  completed  our  study  of   '^*'*  Outiock 
immigration,    necessarily    limited    by    time    and 


296 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


space,  we  are  in  position  to  draw  some  conclu- 
sions with  regard  to  the  outlook.  Our  study 
shows  that  there  is  plenty  in  the  character  and 
extent  of  present  day  immigration  to  make  the 
Christian  and  patriot  thoughtful,  prayerful,  and 
purposeful.  On  the  surface  there  is  enough  that 
is  appalling  and  threatening  to  excuse  if  not  jus- 
tify the  use  of  the  word  "peril."  The  writer 
confesses  that  when  he  lived,  years  ago,  in  west- 
ern Pennsylvania,  and  came  clf^se  to  the  inferior 
grades  of  immigrants,  and  witnessed  the  changes 
wrought  by  the  displacement  of  the  earlier  day 
mining  class,  he  bordered  for  a  time  on  the 
pessimistic  plane.  Nor  was  his  condi'ion  much 
improved  during  residence  in  New  England, 
where  the  changing  of  the  old  order  and  the  pass- 
ing of  the  Puritan  ar^  of  vast  significance  to  our 
country.  But  closer  study  of  the  broad  subject 
has  led  to  a  positively  optimistic  view  concerning 
immigration,  and  some  of  the  grounds  of  this 
optimism  may  properly  close  this  chapter  and 
volume. 

The  basal  ground  is  the  universal  tendency 
toward  democracy  and  the  universal  rtecessitv 
.nd  Religion  for  religion.  These  are  sufficiently  axiomatic. 
The  appeal  to  the  history  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury is  sufficient  to  establish  the  first,  and  the 
appeal  to  the  heart  of  humanity  will  establish  the 
second.  Democracy  is  the  dominant  spirit  in  the 
world's  life  to-day.    It  is  the  vital  air  of  America. 


Two  Great 
Factors — 
Democracy 


The  Home  Mission  Opportunity        297 

Whatever  is  in  its  nature  inimical  to  democracy 
cannot  permanently  endure  on  this  continent,  and 
certainly  cannot  control,  whether  it  be  in  the 
sphere  of  ecclesiasticism  or  commercialism.  This, 
then,  is  the  sure  ground  for  optimism.  Religion 
is  a  necessity  in  a  nation.  What  shall  the  type  of 
religion  be  in  America  ?  The  answer  is  clear,  for 
Protestantism  is  democratic,  while  Romanism  is 
autocratic. 

The  hope  of  America's  evangelization  is  in-   influence  or 
creased  by  the  fact  that  the  pure  religion  of  Jesus   Environ'L««t 
Chiist  is  so  essentially  democratic  in  its  funda- 
mental teachings  of  the  brotherhood  of  man,  of 
spiritual    liberty    and    unity.     The    immigrant 
comes  into  a  new  environment,  created  alike  by 
civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  cannot  escape  its 
influence.     Political  liberty  teaches  the  meaning 
of  soul  liberty,  and  leads  the  way   slowly  but 
surely  to  it.     A  man  cannot  come  into  rights 
of  one  kind  without  awakening  to  rights  of  every 
kind;  and  once  awakened,  soon  he  insists  upon 
having  them  all  for  himself.    Freedom  is  infec- 
tious and  contagious,  and  the  disease  is  speedily 
caught  by  the  old-world  arrival,  who  breathes  in 
its  germs  almost  before  the  ship-motion  wears 
off.    The  peril  of  this  is  that  to  him  the  main  idea 
of  liberty  is  license.     The  true  meaning  of  the 
word  he  must  be  taught  by  the  Christian  mis- 
sionary, for  certainly  he  will  not  learn  it  from 
the  Church  to  which  he  commonly  belongs.  Here, 


2iJ& 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


Tha  TtatinK 
••If" 


Tbe  Task  of 
the  Ages 


then,  is  the  opportunity  for  tlie  pure  gospel  an. 
for  the  Christian  missionary. 

Adding  the  natural  appeal  of  the  gospel  in  it 
simplicity  to  this  favoring  democratic  environ 
nicnt.  there  is  every  reason  for  optimism  con 
cerning  immigration,  if  only  American  Protes 
tantism  prove  true  to  its  opportunity  and  duty 
"Ah,  but  that  is  a  tremendous  IF,"  said  a  widei' 
known  Christian  worker  to  whom  this  statemen 
was  made.    "I  agree  with  you  as  to  the  favoring 
conditions,  and  my  only  doubt  is  whether  oui 
Christian  churches  can  be  brought  to  see  theii 
duty  and  do  it.    So  far  there  are  only  signs  ol 
promise.  Our  Home  Mission  Societies  are  doubt 
less  doing  all  they  can  with  the  slender  means  fur- 
nished by  the  contributing  churches,  but  thev 
are  only  playing  at  ev  .ngelization  of  these  in- 
pouring  millions."    What  could  be  said  in  reply  ? 
One  could  not  deny  — esent  apathy  on  the  part 
of  Protestants  at   lar^.,  whether  the  cause  bo 
ignorance  or  indifference  or  want  of  missionar;. 
spirit.     One  could  but  declare  faith  in  the  pre- 
vailing power  of  Protestantism  when  the  crisis 
comes.     We  believe  the  day  is  not  distant  when 
American   Protestantism   will   present   a   united 
front  and  press   forward   irresistibly.     For  the 
hastening  of  this  day  let  us  pray  and  work. 

Thus  the  problem  always  resolves  itself  to  this 
at  last:  God  has  set  for  American  Protestant 
Christianity  the  gigantic  task  of  the  ages— the 


The  I  Ionic  Mission  ( )j'portunity        2(/) 

homc-forci)?n-mission  task— nothing  less  than 
the  assimilation  of  all  these  foreign  peoples  who 
find  a  home  on  this  continent  into  a  common 
Americanism  so  that  they  shall  form  a  composite 
American  nation— Christian,  united,  free,  and 
great.  What  could  be  more  glorious  than  to 
have  part  in  the  solution  of  this  problem?  '^o 
this  supreme  service,  young  men  and  women  of 
America,  you  are  called  of  God.  What  say  you: 
shall  it  be  Alien  or  American? 


QUESTION'S  FOR  CHAPTER  VIII 

Aim:  To  Make  Hopefl-i.  Bejiinnings  a  Strong  Incen- 
tive TO  Great  Expansion  of  Christian  Work  for 

Foreigners 

I.    Faults  (1)1  Roth  Sides. 

I.     What  issues  hang  upon  our  work  for  the  in- 
coming   foreigners? 
2*  What  barriers  must  be  broken  down  in  order 

to  approach  them  successfully? 
3.     What  do  these  immigrants  (speaking  of  them 

in  general  terms)   possess,  and  what  do  they 

lack,  spiritually? 
4-  Is   there  a   lack   in   our  own  personal   attitude 

and  feelings  toward  them?     What  i?  it? 
5.*  If  you   had   come   as   an   average   immigrant, 

what  would  you  be  likely  to  think  of  "America" 

and  the  "Americans".' 

II.    Missionary  Beginnings. 

6.  When  and  where  is  it  most  easy  to  approach 
the  foreigner?  What  will  a  "lurking  preju- 
dice" do? 


300 


Aliens  or  Americans? 


7.  What  Christian  workers  are  there  at  the  poi 
of  entry  ?  Give  instances  of  the  results  of  th< 
lab<irs. 

8.  Can  we  possibly  rest  content  with  what  is  nc 
being  done  on  these  lines?     Why  not? 

g.*  Should  all  denominations  unite  in  an  effort 
meet  the  situation?     Will  you  strive  for  it? 

10.  What  has  been  the  history  of  evangelic 
churches  down  town  in  New  York  City  ?  Wh 
centers  of  Christian  work  may  be  found  theri 
What  form  would  a  more  adequate  provisi' 
be  likely  *S  take? 

11.  Among  what  classes  of  immigrants  has  tl 
most  5Jccessful  T'lristian  work  been  done? 

12.  Amo  ig    what    classes    has    it    been    thus    f 
sponJic  and  experimental?    Give  instances 
successful  worl.  for  Italians. 

III.  Expansion  Needed  and  Possible. 

13.*  Are  those  who  are  ordinarily  neglected  respoi 
sive  to  the  right  sort  of  effort?  How  m; 
there  be  sent  forth  "more  laborers  into  tl 
harvest"  ? 

14.  When  and  how  may  the  scattered  forces  1 
joined  for  more  effective  work? 

15.*  Shall  we  "dare  to  brave  the  perils  of  an  ui 
precedented  advance"?'  Have  we  such  fail 
that  God  will  move  his  people  to  furnish  tl 
funds  ? 

IV.  Local  and  Individual  Efforts. 

16.  Are  there  many  Sunday-schools  for  Chine; 
in  local  churches  ?  Why  not  as  many  for  othe 
needy  races? 

» Words  used  by  Dr.  A.  L.  Phillips,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  at  tl 
Asheville  Conference,  July,  1906. 


the  port, 
ts  of  their 

lat  is  now 

t? 

effort  t ) 
for  it? 

vangelica! 

ty?  What 
nd  there' 
provision 

has   the 
done? 
thus    f;ir 
itances  of 


Tlic  Home  Mission  DpiKjrtunity        3c 

17.*  I  low  cm  every  Christian  he  a  Home  Mis.s 

ary?     Describe   M<n\e  example.     Compare  .u 

Lord's  parable  of  the  leaven. 
18.     Will  the  "day  of  small  things'   kad  to  gr   ii 

On  what  conditions?    Give  instances, 
ly.*  Is    th.     task    great    enough    to    challenge     -u. 

Chr'stian  faith,  courage,  and  perseverance? 

-•/  Hateful  Outlook  for  the  Christian. 

20.     Is  there  any  reason  for  inactivity  and  despair? 

Why  not? 

Will    Christian   democracy   help   to    solve    the 

problem? 

Where  lies  the  clement  of  uncertaint>  and  how 

can  it  be  removed? 
22*  Will  you  deliberately  give  yourself  to  be  used 

of  God  in  helping  to  remove  it? 

"Immigration   Means  Obligation." 


21. 


22 


d  respon- 

iow   may 

into   the 

forces  be 

»f  an  un- 
uch  faith 
rnish  the 


Chinese 
for  other 

/si.,  at  the     , 


References  for  Advanced  Siunv.— Chapter  VIII 

I.  Study  the  various  forms  of  work  undertaken  for 
foreigners  by  denominational  Home  Mis-ion 
Boards. 

Tables  and  statements  in  tlie  appendixes  of  this 
book. 

Missionary   periodieals. 
Reports  and  papers  of  different  Societies. 

II.     Investigate  and  report  upon  efforts  made  in  your 
own  locality. 

HI.  Frame  an  argument,  or  pica,  for  the  great  enlarge- 
ment of  all  Christian  activities  on  behalf  of  for- 
eigners. 

McLanahan:   Our  People  of  Foreign  Speech,  X, 
XI. 


302 


Appendix  A 


APPENDIX  A 

TABLE  I 
NtTMB«.  o,  luuiourm  ARRnnw  «  the  U^itbd  States  each  Year  wnou  Ifi 


TO  1905,  BOTH  INCLOStVE' 


Period 


Year  ending  September  30— 

1820 

1821 

1822 '. 

1823 

1824 

1825 

182f. ■■   " 

1827 

1828 ■ 

1829 

1830 :; 

1831 

Oct  1.  1831,  to  Dec.  31.  i832 
Ye/ir  endinff  December  31- 

1833 

1834 ■■■■ 

1835 ■'   ■ 

183fi 

1837 ■■■■■ 


Number 


1839 

1840 

1841 

1842 

Jan.  1  to  Sept.  30,  1843 

Year  ending  September  30^ 

1844 

1845 

1846 

1847 

1848 

1849 

1850 

Oct.  1  to  Dec.  31,  1850. .    ' 
Year  ending  December  31— 

1851 

1852 

1853 

1854 

1855 

1856 

Jan.  1  to  June  30,  1857. ..... 

Year  ending  June  3(>— 

1858 

1859 

1860 


8,385 

9,127 

fi.91l 

6,3.M 

7.912 

10,199 

10,837 

18.875 

27,382 

22,520 

23,322 

22,633 

60.482 

58.640 
6,S,.3n5 
45.374 
70,242 
79,340 
38.914 
68,069 
84.066 
80,289 
10t,.'ia-, 
52,496 

78.615 
114.371 
154.416 
234,968 
226,527 
297,024 
310,004 

59,976 

379,466 
371,603 
368,W.-> 
427,833 
200,877 
195,857 
112,123 

191,942 
129,571 
133,143 


Period 


142,S: 
72,  b 
132,'.).' 
191.1! 
180,3; 
332,.';: 
303,111 
2S2.lv 
352.7.,' 
387,20: 

32i,av 

404.s(i> 
459.  M).' 
313,;i:i 
227.4'i« 

im.'.w, 
14l,s.i; 
13S.»ii'l 
177.  s.>,; 
4.'>7.:'." 
669.4,31 
78.S.(W:' 
603.:)i.' 
518,.W.' 
395,;J4« 
334,:'n-i 
490,  IW 

444.4.': 

45.").  ,W 
560,:i::' 

579,ri.'a 
4311,7,311 

28.5,t;:,i 
2.'>8.,»i 
34:i.2'C 

xv).s.i: 

22',i  -  w 

3u!7r' 

44S,.-):2 
4S7.',lb 
64S.743 

811>,s:i) 
l,02li,4'fl 

•From  Annu.il  Report  of  ("ommimioner  Cenorn!  of  Immigration  for  1905    i>- 
iiiiitpd  immiRrati.m  fur  190  i,  .Juno  30,  l,2X>.f;00.        ""•™"""  '"'  '-^-J-  ^^  ■ 


Year  ending  June  30— 

1861 

18<)2 '.'   ■■■ 

1863 ■■■ 

1864 ■ 

1865 ■.■ 

1866 

1807 

1868 

1869 

1870 ; ; ' 

1871 

1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

18'W 

1881 

1882 

1883 '   ■' 

1884 

1885 

18,86 

1887 ■;': 

1888 

1889 

1890 ■  ■ 

1891 

1S92 


1.893. 
1.S94. 
1,895. 
1S96. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1!)05. 


Numlx 


R  FROM  1  a 


Numln 


142,  s:: 

72,  hi 
132,'.)J-, 
191. 1!l 
180,3  ;< 

303.1114 
282,1  VI 
352.7h- 
387,2n:i 
321..Viii 
404.MI', 
459,  v)! 
313,:Ci 
227,4'K 
lf)9.'N. 

141,H." 

177,  •<.>.; 
4.57,:'" 
Oti9.4.31 
78.S,()'.K 
603,:)2-.' 

5i8,.w: 

39.5,;j4'i 

334.201 
490,101 

444.4.': 

5fi0,:i:> 

57(»,'ta 
43lt,:.'i<i 

ZHTyy,:,! 

2.W..-i:i'. 
34;i.j:: 
230,>.i.' 
221t  J'w 

3ii!:'i' 

44S,.-.:; 

4S7.1tb 
tJ4S.743 
8.')7,m^ 
811>,s;i) 
l,02ii.4'W 


1905.  IW.- 


Appendix  A 


TABLE  II 
DEBARRED  IN  1905.  FOR  REASONS  GIVEN 


lUee  or  People 


African  (black) 

Annenian 

Bobemiac 

Bulgarian.  Servian ..... 

Chineee 

Crattjan  and  SloTeoian. 

Cuban 

Dutch  and  Flemiah 

Engliah 


Finnich 

French ....,..,., 

German 

Greek '.'.'.'.'.'..['.[ 

Hebrew 

Iriih " ' 

Italian  (north) 

Italian  (south) 

Japanese 

Lithuanian,  M.'i(t\,nr 

R)liBh 

Roum.inian 

Ruvian 

Ruthenian  (Ru«mi,ik) 

Scandinavian  (NorwcRianii.  Dane*  and 

Swedes) 

Scotch 

Slovak 

Sp.inish 

Spanish  American 

S>Tian 

Turkifh 

Welsh ■'■'''■'.'.''.'.'.'.'.'.'.['. 

Wert  Indian  (except  Chiban) 

All  other  peoples 


Grand  total gg 


92 


I 

i 
i 

1 
9 
1 

2 
8 

10  I 
13  I 

2  I 

i 

119  : 

1  ! 

4 

3 
1 

9 
2 


—  f' 

X>  I- 

£  = 

an 

At 

107 

25 

38 

314 

9 

2(>3 

22! 

51J 
328f 

33! 

04' 
420; 
1 !),"?' 

i.2n*' 

17.1 

1(19; 
1,57.S' 
23S 
475 
444 
3S,^! 

GO, 
ISfi' 

152! 

77 1 
275 

rrti. 

13 
124 

46 

12 

20 
195 


Is 

'-'  c 
8 


247! 
2H0' 
195; 

.«, 

S; 

43 

10 

i 

155 
9 
1 


303 


e 
t 
i 


13 

so 

5 

8 

5 

19 

62 

74 

3 

88 

32 

4! 

M 

7 

5 

28 

.W 

4rt 

4 

9 

23 

lOOJ 

60 

22! 

1^1 

:«;ji 

33 

owl 

15 

4l! 

42 

o. 

J 


3 

78 
104 

37 

2 

128 

18 

31 

89 

48 

747 

70 

1.534 

243 

^„      '58 

205|    1.290 

2 

270 

991 

47 

59 

lis 


13 

26l 
125, 

ml 
1 

13 

14 
21 
47 
63 

1 
.59 

5 
13 


2.198     1.164    7.778 


2.';3 
75 

491 

23 

6 

200 

17 

8 

17 

74 


304 


Appendix  A 


:  TABLE  III 
RACE.  SEX.  AND  AGE  OF  IMMIGRANTS  ADMITTED  IN  1905 


Race  or  people 


Hale 


Female 


Total 


Under 

14 
years 


14  to 

44 

years 


African  (black) 

Annenian 

Bohemian  and  Moravian 

Bulgarian.  Servian,  and  Mon- 
tenegrin  

Chineie 

Croatian  and  Slovenian.. . 

Cuban _ 

Dalmatian,  Bosnian,  and  Her- 
segovinian 

Dutch  and  Flemish 

East  Indian 

English 

Filipino 

Finnish 

French 

German... , 

Greek 

Hebrew 

Irish 

Italbn  (norths 

Italian  (south) 

Japanese 

Korean 

Lithuanian 

Magyar 

Mexican 

Pacific  Islander 

Polish 

Portuguese 

Roumanian 

Russian 

Ruthenian  (Ruasniak) 

Scandinavian  (Norwegians. 
Danes,  and  Swedes) 

Scotch  

Slovak 

Spanish 

Spanish- American 

Syrian 

Turkish < 

Welsh 

West  Indian  (except  (^ban) 

AU  other  peoples 


2.325 
1.339 
6,662 

a,562 

1.1" 

30.253 

4,925 

2.489 
5,( 

137 

31.965 

4 

11.907 

6,705 

49,647 

11.586 

82,070 

24,640 

31,695 

155,007 

9,810 

4.506 

13,842 

34.242 

152 

3 

72.45: 

2,992 

7,244 

2.700 

10.820 

37,202 

10,472 

38.038 

4,7a» 

1,146 

3  248 

2,082 

1,549 

892 

286 


1.273 

539 

5.095 

261 

88 

4.851 

2.334 

ISO 

2.805 

8 

18,900 

1 

5.105 

4,642 

32,713 

558 

47,834 

29,626 

8,235 

31,383 

1,211 

423 

it:-P 

75 
4 

29,985 

1,8(13 

574 

1,046 

3.653 

25,082 

5  672 

14,330 

866 

512 

1,574 

63 

982 

656 

63 


Total 724,914  301,585  1.026,499  114.668  855.419  .56,412 


a598 

1.878 

11.757 

5.823 

1.971 

35.104 

7.259 

2.639 

8.498 

145 

5a865 

5 

17.012 

11.347 

82.360 

12.144 

129.910 

54.266 

39.930 

186.390 

11.021 

4.929 

18.604 

46.030 

22^ 

17 

102.437 

4.855 

7.818 

3.746 

14.473 

62.284 

10.144 

52,3'i8 

5,590 

1.658 

4.822 

2.145 

2,.531 

1,548 

351 


433 

246 
2,620 

97 

28 

1,383 

1,346 

62 
1,( 

3 
6.956 

1.483 

1.121 

11,469 

446 

28.553 

2.580 

3.569 

16.915 

124 

325 

1.474 

3.864 

29 

1 

9.867 

1.035 

153 

591 

661 

6.597 
2.270 

4.582 
403 
223 
742 

45 
4()4 
1S7 

22 


2.974 
1.529 
8.442 

5.529 
1.666 
32.47 
5^225 

2,450 

6,085 

122 

36.726 

4 

15.047 

8.825 

64.441 

11.523 

95.964 

48.562 

34.561 

159.024 

10.588 

4.557 

16  875 

39.926 

169 

15 

89.914 

3.381 

7,293 

2,988 

13,321 

52,226 

12,109 

45,882 

4,612 

1,232 

3,843 

2,073 

1,726 

1,209 

311 


Here  we  have  forty-four  races  of  nationalities  differentiated.    Surely  this  is  a 
medley  of  peoples  to  be  harmonixed.    Note  the  vast  proportion  of  working  age. 


45  jra. 
and 
over 

191 
103 
695 

29  197 
56  277 
1,251 

688 

127 

714 

20 

7.183 

1 

482 

1,401 

6.450 

175 

5,303 

3. 124 

l.SCO 

10.451 

309 

47 

255 

2,240 

29 

1 

2.656 

439 

372 

167 

491 

3,461 

1.765 

1,9(H 

575 

203 

2.'37 

27 

341 

152 

18 


Appendix  A 


305 


TABLE  I\' 
RACIAL  ELEMENTS  OF  THE  TOTAL  IMMIGRATION  FOR  1905 


Italians  (.south) 186,390 

He'jrewg 129.910 

Poles 102,137 

Germans 82.360 

Scandinavians 62.284 

Irish 54.266 

Slovaks 52,368 

English 50.865 

Ma?>-ars  (Hungarians) 46,030 

Italians  (north) 39,930 

CYoatians  and  Slovenians. . . .  35,104 


Lithuanians 1H.604 

Finnish 17.012 

Scotch 1H.144 

Ruthenians 14.473 

(ireeka 12.144 

Bohemians  and  Moravians. . .  11.757 

French 11,347 

Japanese 11.021 

Ali  others 72.353 

Total 1.026.499 


3o6 


Appendix  B 


h 


it 


APPENDIX  B 

Table  of  Acts  of  Congress  Concerning  Immigration 

1862.  Act  of  February  19,  prohibiting  building,  equip- 
ping, loading,  or  preparing  any  vessel  licensed, 
enrolled  or  registered  m  the  United  States  for 
procuring  coolies  from  any  Oriental  country  to 
be  held  for  service  or  labor. 

JS75.  Act  of  March  3,  providing  that  any  person  con- 
tracting or  attempting  to  contract  to  supply  coolie 
labor  to  another  be  guilty  of  felony.  Excluding 
convicts,  and  women  imported  for  immoral  pur- 
poses, making  this  traffic  felony. 
General  Immigration  Act  of  August  3;  enlarg- 
ing excluded  list  and  establishing  head  tax. 
Contract  Labor  Act  of  February  26,  to  prevent 
importation  of  labor  under  the  padrone  or  other 
similar  system. 

Act  of  March  3,  which  codified  and  strengthened 
the  previous  statutes.  Excluded  classes  increased ; 
encouraging  of  contract  labor  to  emigrate  by  ad- 
vertisements forbidden;  scope  of  Immigration 
Bureau  enlarged  by  establishing  office  of  Superin- 
intendent  of  Immigration  (now  Commissioner- 
General),  providing  for  return  of  debarred  aliens, 
and  making  decision  of  immigration  officers  as  to 
landing  or  debarment  final. 

1893.  Act  of  March  3;  requiring  manifests  and  their 
verification;  providing  boards  of  special  inquiry; 
and  compelling  steamship  companies  to  post  in 
the  offices  of  their  agents  copies  of  the  United 
States  immigration  laws,  and  to  call  the  attention 
of  purchasers  of  tickets  to  them. 


1882. 
1885. 


1891. 


Appendix  B 


307 


1894.  Act  of  August  18;  making  the  decision  of  the 
appropriate  immigration  officials  final  as  to  admis- 
sion of  aliens,  unless  reversed  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  on  appeal. 

1903-  Immigration  Restriction  Act  of  March  3.  (For 
its  main  provisions  see  p.  70  of  this  book,  foot- 
note 3.) 

The  Principal  Excluded  Classes 
(i)   Idiots;   (2)  insane  persons;   (3)  epileptics;   (4) 
prostitutes;  (5)  paupers;  (6)  persons  likely  to  become 
public  charge;   (7)   profe-ional  beggars;   (8)   persons 
afflicted  with  a  loathsome  or  contagious  disease;   (9) 
persons  who  have  been  convicted  of  a  felony  or  other 
crime  or  misdemeanor  involving  moral  turpitude,  not 
including  those  convicted  of  purely  political  offences; 
(10)    polygamists;    (11)    anarchists    (or  persons   who 
believe  in  or  advocate  the  overthrow  by  force  or  violence 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States  or  of  all  govern- 
ment or  forms  of  laws,  or  the  assassination  of  public 
officials)  ;  (12)  those  deported  within  a  year  from  date 
of   application    for   admission   as   being   under   offers, 
solicitation,  promises  or  agreements  to  perform  labor 
or  service  of  some  kind  therein ;  ( 13)  any  person  whose 
ticket  or  passage  is  paid  for  with  the  money  of  another, 
or  who  is  assisted  by  others  to  come,  unless  it  is  shown 
that  such  person  does  not  belong  to  one  of  the  excluded 
classes;  but  any  person  in  the  United  States  may  send 
for  a   relative  or  friend  without   thereby  putting  the 
burden  of  this  proof  upon  the  immigrant. 

Crimes  Under  the  Act  of  1903 

In  order  to  enforce  these  provisions  twelve  violations 
were  made  crimes,  with  penalties  of  both  fine  and  im- 
prisonment: (i)  Importing  any  person  for  immoral 
purposes;  (2)  prepaying  the  transportation  or  encoura- 


3o8 


Appendix  B 


ging  the  migration  of  aliens  under  any  offer,  solicitation, 
promise  or  agreement,  parol  or  sfecial,  expressed  or 
implied,  made  previous  to  the  importation  of  aliens,  to 
perform  labor  in  the  United  States;   (3)  encouraging 
the   migration    of   aliens   by    promise    of   employment 
through  advertisements  in  foieign  countries;    (4)   en- 
couraging immigration  on  the  part  of  owners  of  vessels 
and  transportation  companies  by  any  means  other  than 
communications  giving  the  sailing  of  vessels  and  terms 
of  transportation;    (5)    bringing  in  or   attempting  to 
bring  in  any  alien  not  duly  admitted  by  an  immigrant 
inspector  or  not  lawfully  entitled  to  enter  the  United 
States;  (6)  bringing  in  by  any  person  other  than  rail- 
way lines  of  any  person  afflicted  with  a  loathsome  or 
dangerous  contagious  disease;  (7)  allowing  an  alien  to 
land  from  a  vessel  at  any  other  time  and  place  than  that 
designated  by  the  immigration  officer;  (8)  refusing  or 
neglecting  to  return  rejected  aliens  to  the  port  from 
which  they  came  or  to  pay  their  maintenance  while  on 
land;    (9)    refusing    or    neglecting    to    return    aliens 
arrested  within  three  years  after  entry  as  being  unlaw- 
fully in  the  United  States;  (10)  knowingly  or  willfully 
giving  false  testimony  or  swearing  to  any  false  state- 
ment affecting  the  right  of  an  alien  to  land  is  made  per- 
jury; (11)  assisting  any  anarchist  to  enter  the  United 
States,  or  conspiring  to  allow,  procure  or  permit  any 
such  person  to  enter;  (12)  failing  to  deliver  manifests. 

Laws  to  Protect  the  Immigrant 
Act  of  1819,  providing  that  a  vessel  should  not  carry 
more  than  two  passengers  for  every  five  tons,  and  that 
a  specified  quantity  of  certain  provisions  should  be 
carried  for  every  passenger;  requiring  the  master  to 
deliver  sworn  manifests  showing  age,  sex,  occupation, 
nativity,  and  destination  of  passengers. 
Act  of  1855,  limited  number  to  one  for  every  two  tons, 


Appendix  B 


30J 


and  provided  that  each  passenger  on  main  and  poop 
decks  should  have  sixteen  feet  of  floor  space,  and  on 
lower  decks  eighteen  feet. 

Act  of  1882,  providing  that  in  a  steamship  the  unob- 
structed spaces  shall  be  sufficient  to  allow  one  hundred 
cubic  feet  per  passenger  on  main  and  next  deck,  and 
120  on  second  deck  below  main  deck,  and  forbidding 
carrying  of  passengers  on  any  other  decks,  or  in  any 
space  having  vertical  height  less  than  six  feet;  other 
provisions  regulate  the  occupancy  of  berths,  light  and 
air,  ventilation,  toilet  rooms,  food,  and  hospital  facili- 
ties. Explosives  and  other  dangerous  articles  are  not 
to  be  carried,  nor  animals  with  or  below  passengers. 
Lists  of  passengers  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  boarding 
officer  of  customs. 

Act  of  1884,  provision  that  no  k.eper  of  a  sailors' 
hoarding  house  or  hotel,  and  no  runner  or  person  inter- 
ested in  one,  could  board  an  incoming  vessel  until  after 
it  reached  its  dock.  This  to  protect  aliens  from  imposi- 
tion and  knavery. 

Legislation  Recommended  in  1905  bv  the  Commis- 
sioner-General OF  Immigration 
I.  In  regard  to  diseased  aliens:  that  competent  med- 
ical officers  be  located  at  the  principal  ports  of  embarka- 
tion; that  all  aliens  seeking  passage  secure  as  a 
prerequisite  from  such  officer  a  certificate  of  good 
health,  mental  and  physical;  and  that  the  bringing 
of  any  alien  unprovided  with  such  certificate  shall  sub- 
ject the  vessel  by  which  he  is  brought  to  summary  fine. 
2.  That  the  penalty  of  $100  now  prescribed  for  carrying 
diseased  persons  be  increased  to  $500,  as  a  means  of 
making  the  transportation  lines  more  careful.  3.  Such 
further  legislation  as  will  enable  the  government  to 
punish  those  who  induce  aliens  to  come  to  this  country 
under  promise  or  assurance  of  employment.    Less  exact- 


310 


Appendix  B 


ing  rules  of  evidence  and  a  summary  mode  of  trial  are 
needed  to  make  the  law  effective.  4  That  Congress 
provide  means  for  distributing  arriving  aliens  who  now 
congregate  in  the  large  cities.  5.  That  as  a  means  of 
those  incapable  of  self-support  through  age  or  feeble- 
ness; those  who  have  not  brought  sufficient  money  to 
maintain  them  for  a  reasonable  time  in  event  of  sick- 
ness or  lack  of  employment.  6.  That  adequate  means  be 
adopted,  enforced  by  sufficient  penalties,  to  compel 
steamship  companies  to  observe  in  good  faith  the  law 
which  forbids  them  to  encourage  or  solicit  immigration. 
If  other  means  fail,  a  limitation  apportioning  the  num- 
ber of  passengers  in  direct  ratio  to  tonnage  is  suggested. 
7.  That  masters  of  vessels  be  required  to  furnish  mani- 
fests of  outgoing  aliens,  similar  to  those  of  arriving 
aliens,  so  that  the  net  annual  increase  of  alien  population 
may  be  ascertained. 

In  addition  two  special  recommendations  are  made, 
with  view  to  control  immigration  and  lessen  the  hard- 
ships of  the  debarred:  i.  To  enlighten  aliens  as  to  the 
provisions  of  our  laws,  so  that  they  may  not  in  ignor- 
ance sever  their  home  ties  and  sacrifice  their  small 
possessions  in  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  enter  the  United 
States.  To  this  end  the  laws  and  regulations  should 
be  translated  into  the  various  tongues  and  distributed 
widely.  This  might  not  prevail  as  against  the  influence 
and  promises  of  transportation  agents,  but  it  would 
relieve  this  country  of  responsibility  for  needless  dis- 
tress and   suffering. 

(2)  An  international  conference  of  immigration 
experts. 


Appendix  C 


3" 


APPENDIX  C 

WoBK  OF  Leading  Denominations  for  the  Foreign 
Population 

The  following  facts  and  figures,  received  from  the 
leading  Home  Mission  Boards,  give  some  idea  of  the 
work  which  is  now  being  done  for  the  evangelization 
of  the  foreign  peoples  in  the  United  States.  We  should 
be  glad  if  the  reports  were  more  complete.  They  do 
not  represent  all  of  the  work  that  is  being  done,  because 
a  considerable  part  of  this  work  is  carried  on  by  the 
local  churches  in  all  of  the  denominations,  and  this 
work  IS  seldom  reported  and  does  not  enter  into  the 
statistics  of  the  Home  Mission  Boards. 

It  is  hoped  that  each  Board  will  provide  a  supple- 
mentary chapter,  setting  forth  in  detail  its  work  among 
the  foreign  population— a  work  abounding  in  incident 
and  hopefulness.  There  is  no  more  encouraging  home 
mission  work,  and  wherever  earnest  effort  has  been 
made,  the  response  has  been  most  gratifying.  Write  to 
your  Home  Mission  Board  for  full  information.  Where 
a  special  chapter  is  not  furnished  for  a  supplemental 
study,  the  Boards  will  send  the  information  and  litera- 
ture that  will  enable  the  leader  of  the  study  class  to 
show  what  is  being  done,  with  a  detail  impossible  in  the 
general  treatment  of  the  subject. 

It  is  significant,  in  this  connection,  that  all  the  Boards 
are  calling  especial  attention  to  the  needs  of  this  work 
among  the  foreign  peoples  and  urging  large  advance 
in  plans  for  evangelization. 


312 


Appendix  C 


K 


l 


MISSION  WORK  OF  THE  METHODIST  KP1800PAL  CHURCH  IN  1006 
AMONG  THE  FOREIGN  POPUUTION 


Nationality 


1 

If 


Webh. 4 

Bwediih 135 

Nurwpgian  and  Daniih ...  85 

German 265 

French 8 

Chineae. 11 

JapaoMB 30 


S  •■  B 
J     I 


185 

12,070 

4.23(1 

1«,1S4 

3.V) 

29S 

l.GfiO 


KatioDi.'Jit) 


BnhpmianandHnnRarian.  11  1,6C({ 

Itiiliim 18  1,014 

PortURuesc 3  80 

Finnifh Q  93 

Foreign  Pupulutiona 3  .... 

Total a82  39.557 


Including  the  charges  not  now  receiving  missionary 
aid,  the  total  number  of  missions,  or  charges,  among 
the  foreign  peoples  was  971,  not  including  Spanish 
work,  and  the  total  membership,  including  probationers, 
was  9J.082  in  1906.  The  work  is  extended  all  over 
the  count  rj-. 

The  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  supports 
Immigrant  Homes  in  New  York  City,  and  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  in  which  immigrants  may  find  protection  and 
counsel  as  well  as  a  safe  lodging.  In  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
work  is  also  done  for  incoming  strangers,  and  lodgings 
provided  in  case  of  need.  Missionaries  are  stationed 
at  each  of  these  points.  Much  work  is  done  for  foreign- 
ers by  this  Society  through  its  three  large  city  missions, 
and  its  numerous  Deaconess  Homes. 


i      1 

"    s    & 

!ii 

i  1 

'    a    t 

*>        E 

•   a    " 

1    i.eco 

18     1.014 

3         86 

9         93 

8      .... 

Appendix  C 


3U 


MISSION  WORK  OF  THE  PRE8BYTERIA\  HOME  MISSION  BO\RD  I\ 
IBOb  .\MONQ  THE  FOKEIU.V  IHWULATION 

No.  of 


NatioiuUity 


Armenmn 3 

fiohembn 30 

ChiwK '  10 

DsoMand  NurwcKiant. . .  1 

Dutch 12 

French g 

Qerman ..'...'.  IM 

Hungarian  (Magyar) IS 


Churchei  Mem- 

and        ber- 
Stationi    ihip. 


Nationality 


1S3 
t.:i20 

438 

101 
1.3U.5 

SOS 

13.4to 

1.03.'. 


No  of 
Churchet  Mrm- 
and      ber- 

'«^- .'.*^'r'*9!& 

i"!*""* a      so 

K""?" I         40 

Kuamn j 

Slavic g      'jvj 

Syrian .""■      o         li 

>*>i«h ::  7    414 


Total.. 


290  20.413 


Total 230    18,a03 

The  Annual  Report  for  1906  says:  In  addition  to  the 
above  it  is  doubtless  true  that  there  are  many  churches, 
and  even  individuals,  carrying  on  religious  work  among 
foreigners  which  has  not  been  reported  to  the  Board. 
Two  facts  warrant  special  attention.  One  is  that  the 
proper  carrying  on  of  the  work  of  giving  the  gospel 
to  these  foreign-speaking  peoples  necessarily  includes 
and  is  closely  allied  with  other  needs— such  as  schools ; 
literature  in  their  own  tongue,  including  tracts,  papers, 
and  the  Bible ;  colporteur  visitation ;  Bible  reading,  and 
so  forth  It  is  not  sufficient  simply  to  open  a  church 
or  hall  where  a  meeting  can  be  held  and  expect  the 
people  to  come.  A  great  deal  of  preparatory  work  must 
be  done. 


MISSION  WORK  OF  THE  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  HOME  MISSION 
IN  190ii,  AMONG  THE  FOREIGN  POPULATION 
Nationality 

No. 
jf 

Bohemianf 6 

Chineie 12 


Danea 20 

Finns 13 

French  Cinsdian  29 

Germans 148 

Rungariani.    ...  3 

Italians 25 

Japanese 2 

Jews 2 

200 


Members 

of  Mission 

Reldi 

196 

20J 


484 

175 

CV) 

5,196 

42 
3UI 

68 


'Ml 


Nationality 

No. 
of 

Fields 

Lettish 2 

Mexicans  in  I',  S     18 

Norwegiana 50 

Poles a 

Portunui-fv 2 

Russians 2 

Sla>-s 5 

S»ede» 205 

Syrians 1 


551 


SOCIETY 


Meri})er« 

of  Miaiiiin 

Fields 

31 

113 

1,095 

82 

42 

71 

77 

7  623 


16.545 


K 


1 
i 


314  Appendix  C 

FOREIGN  PEOPLES  IN  BAPTIST  CHlk'.'HES.  THE  RESULTS  OF  HOME 
UltiSION  WORK 

Churcbia  Memb'thip 

rimaaoa,  IWO 266        2fi,274 

Dnnr-Nurwrcian,  1903 gQ  5,530 

Swtdei,  11)03 381        22,624 

The  number  of  missionaries  among  the  foreign  popu- 
lations was  312.  The  Women's  Societies  maintained  a 
number  of  workers,  including  the  efficient  missionaries 
at  Ellis  Island.  The  Home  Mission  Society  is  support- 
ing Italian  missionaries  in  twenty  cities.  Aside  from 
organized  effort,  Chinese  Sunday  schools  are  conducted 
by  many  local  churches,  which  do  not  report  to  any 
central  organization.  There  is  a  considerable  work 
done  also  by  the  City  Mission  Societies,  which  work 
independently  in  part.  In  some  places,  local  churches 
also  maintain  missions  among  the  Italians,  Hung.,  ian.s, 
and  Slavs. 

MISSION    WORK    OF   THE   CONGREOATIONAL   HO.ME    MISSIONARY 
SOCICTY  IN  1906 

Total  number  of  MiaionarMt 215  Spanish  Miwioni 10 

German  Mi«ioM 73  Fimiibh        "       e 

Scandinavian  Miwoni 89  Danich        "       2 

Bohemian            "       20  Armenian    "       ..'.  6 

Poliah                  "       5  Greek.         "       1 

French                 "       7  Chinese  and  Japanete 22 


li 


STATEMENTS  SHOWING  .VUMBER  OF  CONGREG.^TIONAL  CHURCHES 
FOR  FOREIGN  SPE.^  KING  PEOPLES,  WITH  THEIR 
TOTAL  ME.MBERSH1P 

Church™  Mcmben    Average  to  a  Church 

German* ...170  8.000  47 

Scandioaviani 05  7,495  79 

SUvt 12  030  58 

All  other  Nmtionalitipt,  (iiicluding 
Italians,  French,  Greek,  Arme- 
nian, Chinese,  Welah,  etc 102  8,222  78 

379  2i353  257 


10 

li 

2 

6 

1 

22 


Appendix  C  ^15 

Work  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  Among 
THE  Foreign  Popl'latios' 
The  Domestic  Section  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign 
m  the  Lnued  States  carries  on  w,,rk  to  a  limi,,  ,1  extent 

the   East.   wh..  has  charge  of  this   work   in   th.-  three 
dioceses  of  Rhode  Island.  New  York,  and   Ma  sachu! 
setts,  and  one  in  the  northwest.    I .  the  eastern  d.oceses 
named  there  were  in  1906  f.fteen  Swedish  missions  and 
parishes,    with    ,.897   communicants,    ministered    to   by 
five  clergymen.    The  western  general  missionarv  vr-ited 
SH-eden  during  the  past  year  for  the  purpose  of  finding 
suitable    university    stmlents    for    the    ministry    i„    thi! 
countrj-.     There  an    mission^   in   Dtiluth  and  at  other 
poms      The   Annual   Report    say.:   "Of  all   the   work 
under  the  care  of  the  general  missionary,  none  is  more 
important  than  the  mission  to  Scandinavian  imm  gran 
arriving  at  Elhs  Island.  Xew   York,  for  it  acts  as  a 
special  feeder  to  the  church.     The  Scandinavian  immi- 

coumrv."  "'    ^'""^    ^">'    ""'^'^    P'«'«»^"' 

Wha^   further  work  is  done  for  the  foreign  peoples 

js   carr.ed    on    by   the    local    parishes,    such    as    Grace 

Church,   Trinity    Saint   George's,   and   Saint   Bartholo- 

17 U"  v''''  "^^''^  ^"^^  ^'"^"g  the  Italians 

and  other  nationalities,  and  equ<p  their  missions  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  imitation. 

Lutheran  Work  in  the  United  State.s 

Large    numbers   of   the    immigrants    are    Lutherans 
The  resources  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Amerua  to 
-nr.  for  her  people  an    thus  stated  by  the  Rev.  J.  X 
'^T*  .  Luu,cran  World,  the  church  organ:' 


3i6 


Appendix  C 


For  the  Germans,  5,000  pastors,  B,<xx>  churches,  and 
1,200,000   communicant    members. 

For  the  Scandinavians,  1,800  pastors,  14,300  churches, 
and  500,000  communicant  members. 

For  the  Finns,  three  synods,  58  pastors,  187  churches, 
and  22,149  communicant  members. 

For  the  Slovaks,  about  200  organizations  with  a  grow- 
ing number  of  pastors  and  a  very  loyal  constituency. 

For  the  Letts  and  Esthonians,  21  organized  congre- 
gations and  preaching  stations,  divided  into  the  eastern 
and  western  districts. 

For  the  Icelanders,  one  synod,  10  pastors,  37  or- 
ganized congregations,  3,785  communicant  members. 

For  the  Poles,  Bohemians,  and  Magyars,  work  is  done 
by  the  various  German  synods,  the  late  statistics  of 
which  are  not  at  hand.  Besides  congregations  in  these 
languages,  many  understand  German  and  are  served 
by  German  pastors. 

The  whole  Lutheran  Church  of  America,  including 
the  Swedish  Mission  Friends  with  33,000  members  and 
the  German  Evangelical  Synod  with  222,000  members, 
the  constituents  of  which  are  nearly  all  Lutherans, 
making  in  all  8,956  pastors,  15,135  churches,  and  2,123,- 
639  communicant  members  are  the  results  of  immigrant 
mission  work  or  mission  work  in  foreign  languages  or 
languages  other  than  English. 

ANALYSIS  OF  THE  IMMIGRATION  FOR  1905.  WITH  REGARD  TO  RELI- 
GIOUS AFFILI.\TIONS  AND  E.\SE  OF  ASSIMIUTION  » 

Fint  claH  and  the  easiest  to  oKimilate  are 

Enftlwh 60,865  Reformed 

Scotch 16,144  Reformed 

Germani 82,360  Luth.  and  Cath. 

Scandinaviona 62,284  Lutheran 

Irish 54,266  Catholic. 

Fimif 17.012  Lutheran 

Lett8,etc 18,604  Lutheran 

Blovak* 52,368  Lutheran 

Total 353,903 


Appendix  C  317 

Second  clou  and  the  second  eoiieit  to  aasimibte: 

te"n..-etc;.::::::::::: fM  51  *":! f;''!^ 

French  Il,<o7    Rcl.  and  Cath. 

Ruthenhna.;  ■.■.;■.■.;;;;; H-^'     Kf-f  and  Cath. 

14.4(3    Cathohc 

rJ°}^: •;•"• ~83:2^ 

Third  cl»  and  the  mo,t  difficult  to  evangeliie  and  Americanize  and  the  daa 
that  rnalcei  the  new  problem  difficult: 

It^uru 102.137    Catholic 

Hebrowa 226,320    Catholic 

"  * m.m    laraelitea 

"^•"^ 453.307 

*  From  the  Luthtran  World. 


3i8 


Appendix  D 


APPENDIX  D 

Bibliography 

Bernheimer,  Charles  S.,  Editor.    The  Russian  Jew 
the  United  States.    B.  F.  Buck  &  Co.,  New  Yoi 
?i.So.    Written  mostly  by  Jews ;  replete  with  fac 
gathered    in    the    various    centers— New    Yor 
Philadelphia,  Chicago,  Boston.     Should  be  rcc 
by  those  who  would  understand  this  remarkab 
people. 
Brandenburg,  Broughton.    Imported  Americans.    F.  i 
Stokes,  New  York.    $i.6o.    Description  of  exper 
ences    while   making   personal    investigations    i 
New  York,  Italy,  and  the  steerage,  of  immigratic 
problems. 
Crowell,   Catherine   R.     Coming  Americans.     Wille 
Press,  New  York.     Paper,  25  cents;   Cloth,  3 
cents.    A  book  for  Juniors,  putting  in  attractiv 
form  for  children  and  teachers  of  children  th 
leading  features   of  immigration. 
Gordon,  W.   Evans.     The  Alien  Immigrant     Charle 
Scribner's   Sons,   New   York.     $1.50.     Describe 
the  Hebrews  in  European  countries,  with  chapte 
on  situation  in  the  United  States. 
Hall,  Prescott  F.     Immigration.     Henry  Holt  &  Co 
New  York.    $1.50.    The  latest  volume  of  compre 
heiisive  character,  taking  the  restrictive  positior 
The  author  is  secretary  of  the  Immigration  Re 
striction  League. 
Holt,  Hamilton.     Undistinguished  Americans.     Jame 
Pott  &  Co.,  New  York.    $1.50.    Biographical  an< 
readable. 


Appendix  D 


319 


Lord,  Eliot,  et  al.    The  Italian  in  An  -.ica.    B.  F.  Buck 
&  Co.,  New  York.    $1.50.    Mak .    ar  exceeding!- 
favorable   showing   for  the   Italians;    somewhit 
one-sided  but  valuable. 

Mayo-Smith,  Richmond.  Emigration  and  Immigi  - 
tion.  Charles  Scribner's  Sons,  New  Yo-k. 
$1.50.  An  exceedingly  valuable  and  schola/ly 
work. 

McLanahan,  Samuel.  Our  Peoples  of  Foreign  Sr^c  h. 
Fleming  H.  Revell  Company,  New  York.  50 
cents,  net.  A  handbook  containing  many  valuable 
facts  in  compact  form. 

Riis,  Jacob.  How  the  Other  Half  Lives.  Charles 
Scribner's  Sons,  '"ew  York.  $1.25,  net.  Descrip- 
tive of  the  con'^iuons  in  which  the  foreign  popu- 
lation struggles  for  existence. 

Roberts,  Peter.  Anthracite  Coal  Communities.  The 
Macmillan  Company,  New  York.  $3.50.  A  study 
of  the  anthracite  regions  and  the  Slavs,  similar 
in  character  to  Dr.  Warne's  book. 

Sinclair,  Upton.  The  Jungle.  Dottbleday,  Page  &  Co., 
New  York.  $1.50.  A  work  based  on  personal 
investigation  and  living  among  the  Slavs  who 
labor  in  the  stockyards  in  Chicago;  vivid  narra- 
tive. This  book  discloses  the  treatment  of  the 
alien  that  makes  him  a  menace  to  America. 

Strong,  Jofiah.  Our  Country.  Baker  &  Taylor  Com- 
pany, New  Yt'K.  •'<)  cents.  The  points  made  in 
the  chapter  on  Immigration  are  as  pertinent 
now  as  when  the  book  was  issued  in  1881. 

Strong.  Josiah.  The  Twentieth  Century-  City.  Baker 
&  Taylor  Company,  New  York.  Paper,  23  centi; 
Cloth,  so  ccnt«  Ha3  the  breadth  of  view  and 
efifectivene^b  v.hich  belong  to  the  author. 


i 


I 

i  i 


320 


Appendix  D 


Warne,  F.  Julian.  The  Slav  Invasion.  J.  B.  Lippir 
cott  Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  $r.oo,  net.  Stud 
at  first  hand  of  conditions  in  Pennsylvania  minin 
regions  and  the  Slav  population. 

Whelpley,  J.  D.  The  Problem  of  the  Immigran 
Charles  Scribner's  Sons,  New  York.  $4.2i 
Dealing  with  the  emigration  and  immigratio 
laws  of  all  nations. 

Wood,  Robert  A.  Americans  in  Process.  Charlt 
Scribner's  Sons,  New  York.  $1.50.  A  serie 
of  papers  by  Robert  A.  Wood,  and  other  workei 
in  the  South  End  House  in  Boston,  Mass. 


.  Lippin- 
.  Study 
ia  mining 

imigrant. 

$4.20. 
nigration 


Charles 

A    series 

workers 


INDEX 


m. 


K 


INDEX 


Abuses,  of  iminigration 
privileges  and  Jaws,  42, 
43,  63-09,  78-84,  92,  -93 

Adams,  Representative,  of 
Pennsylvania,  74,  97 

Admission,  see  Jntmigrants 

Africans,  124 

Alabama,   113 

Albany,   New  York,  22 

Aldrich,  Thomas   Bailey,  3 

Alien,  admission,  53-64;  ad- 
vance in  numbers  and 
distribution,  15-50,  M>2- 
117;  characterized,  236, 
237>  258;  ideas  imported, 
241 ;  loss  of  religious 
faith,  271 ;  opinion  of 
America,  272;  protection, 
65-68;   restriction.  68-84 

Aliens,  classes  excluded. 
77,  78;  total  since  Ameri- 
can Revolution,  28 

America,  duty  to  guard  its 
own  genius,  232 ;  mission. 
8.  269 ;  must  be  kept  Chris- 
tian 271 ;  unique  mission 
field.  269 

American.  Christians,  duty 
of.  8.  9.  44-47;  college, 
Springfield.  Mass..  280; 
fair  play.  73 ;  ideals  to  be 
preserved.  11,  46.  47.  91, 
238,  239.  262  ;  institutions. 
232,  261;  liberty.  117; 
Protestantism,  16,  47,  254, 


255,  288;  teacher  in  Sy- 
ria, 39;  Tract  Society, 
50;  tj»pe  of  nationality, 
II,  45,  46,  92,  238,  240 

Americanization  of  immi- 
grants, 8.  12,  46,  113,  126, 
176.  242;  children  pro- 
moting, 205,  223,  259,  260 

Anderson,  Herbert,  2& 

Antwerp,  99 

Appeal,  right  of,  tby  ex- 
cluded. 77,  78 

Ardkn.  Ivan,  f8l,  182 

Armenians,  124 

Asia,  immigrants  from,  20, 
21,  113 

Assimilation  of  foreign 
peoples,  270,  271 ;  aid  to, 

293 
Assisted     immigration,    43, 

77,  93,  loi 
Associated      Charities      of 

Boston,   96 
Atchison,  Rena  M.,  194,  247 
Attila,  27 
Australians,  as  immigrants, 

22 
Austria,  •81,  82 
Austria-Hungary,    92,    165; 

immigrants   from,  21,  ^5, 

72 

Baldwin.  Mrs.  S.  L.,  72,  73 
Baltimore.  53 
Barrows,  Dr.  S.  J.,  142 


323 


324 


Index 


K 


ij 


Battery,  the,  54,  62,  108 

Belgians,  as  immigrants,  21 

Belgium,  29 

Berlin,  199 

Betts,  Mrs.  Lillian  W.,  151. 
152,  204 

Bible.  34.  167.  174.  283.  288 

"Birds  of  passage,"  71,  135 

Blackwell's  Island,  139 

Board  of  Special  Inquiry,  62 

Bohemians,  as  immigrants, 
21,  165-170;  city  centers, 
166;  freethinking  tenden- 
cies, 168,  169:  Protestant 
in  spirit,  165-168;  reli- 
gious work  among,  285 

Booth,  General  William,  194 

Bosnians,  183 

Boston,  24,  S3,  83,  198;  Ital- 
ian Society,  iii 

Boyesen,  Professor,  28,  89, 
90,  234 

Brandenburg,  Broughton, 
41,  65-68,  82,  97,  98,  101 

Bremen,  82,  99 

Brooklyn,   148 

Brooks,  Phillips,  232 

Bryce,  James,  200 

Buffalo,  172 

Bulgarians,  as  immigrants, 
21,  183 

Bureau  of  Information,  no 

Burlington,  Iowa,  20 

Calvin,    172 

Cambridge,    Massachusetts, 

24 
Canada,   27;   ingress   from, 

S3.  77,  92 
Canadians,    as    immigrants, 

21 
Carr,  Mr.  138 
Carroll,  Dr.  H.  K.,  174 
Castle  Garden,  28 
Celtic  peoples,  123 


Chandler,  ex-Senator,  214 

Chattanooga,  Immigration 
Bureau  m,  113 

Chicago,  36,  166-172,  176, 
187,  198 

Childhood,  the  blighting  of 
225,  226 

Children,  condition  of,  in 
great  cities,  221.  222; 
number  of,  at  work,  224, 
226 

Chinese,  as  immigrants,  21, 
40.  72,  73;  converts,  73, 
89,  269;  exclusion  act,  70, 
73 ;  Sunday-schools  for, 
289 

Chi  vers.  Dr.  E.  E.,  267 

Chopin.  172 

Christ,  44,  277 

Christian  attitude  toward 
immigrants,  44-47,  270 ; 
cooperation  and  federa- 
tion, 286;  optimism,  8, 
117.  262 

Christianity,  converts  to. 
73 ;  its  first  impression 
for  newcomers,  277,  278 

Churches,  duty  and  oppor- 
tunity of,  270.  282.  286; 
abandoning  lower  New 
York.  278;  must  be  mis- 
sionary, 270 ;  saving 
themselves  through  sav- 
ing immigrants,  285 ; 
work  for  foreigners.  289 

Cincinnati,  23 

Citizenship,  how  degraded, 
214 

City,  the,  bad  government 
of,  200;  conditions  of  ten- 
ement-house life  in.  201, 
210;  demoralizing  influ- 
ences, 209.  214;  environ- 
ment offered  immigrants, 
196,   201-206;   foretgniza- 


Index 


325 


tion  of,  198.  I9Q,  217;  iso- 
lation of  foreigners  in, 
205;  nerve  and  storm 
center.  193 ;  overcrowd- 
ing, J03,  206;  political 
evils,  214 
City   College,  many  Jewish 

pupils  in,   189 
Civil  V.'ar,  effect  on  immi- 
gration, 26,  31 
Claghorn,    Miss    Kate,    07, 
258  ""' 

Cleveland.    Ohio,    24,    166, 

169,  172 
Cleveland,  President,  96 
Colonies,  foreign,  in  Amer- 
ica, 196.  198.  200.  217 
Colonists  distinguished  from 

immigrants,  45,  46 
Columbia  University.  11 
Columbus.  Christopher,  188 
Commissioner-General       of 
Immigration.     25.     76-78, 
_  83.  92.  93 ;  of  the  Port.  ^^ 
Coney  Island.  150 
Congestion   of  foreign   ele- 
ments in  cities,  195 
Congress,  acts  of.  70 
Connecticut,  173,   174,  180 
Consumption,    statistics    of, 
22D;       foreign       elemeni 
largely  its  victims,  220 
Contract     labor     exclusion. 
7T,  82,  92;   violation,  82, 

Convicts,  excluded,  "jy 

Cook,  Joseph,  52 

Coolies,  Chinese,  excluded, 
7? 

Cooperaticn,  interdenomi- 
national, 286:  of  Home 
Mission  Boards,  288 

Copernicus,  172 

Crime,  conditions  favorable 
to  increase  of,   209.   224; 


foreigners  led  into  by  en- 
vironment   and    example, 
209 
Croatians,  124,  183 
Czechs,  see  Bohemians 

Dalmatians,  as  immigrants, 

183 
Danes,  as  immigrants,  21 
Debarred,  see  lixcludcd 
Democracy,      influence      of 

upon  aliens,  296,  298 
Denmark,  immigrants  from, 

23 
Detroit,  21,  172 
Discrimination  needed  as  to 

immigrants,   127 
Diseases    guarded    against, 
^.57,59.  60.74.77.  78.93 
Distribution  of  immigrants, 
102-117;  New  York  state, 
105,     107;    New    Zealand 
methods,   116;  North  At- 
lantic section.   105;  Ohio, 
107;     Pennsylvania,     105, 
107;    railroads    assisting. 
116;  societies  aiding,  107- 
113;  South  Central  states, 
105:  West  Virginia,  107; 
Western  section,  105 
Dublin,    199 
Dutch,  as  immigrants,  21 

Eastern    invasion,   the.    157- 

192 
Edison.  Thomas  A..  247 
Educational   policy   affected 

by  immigration,  246 

Ellis  Island,  18,   19,  35,   37 

54.   55.   59-62,   74.   83.    99,' 

100,        108;       missionary 

workers    at,    274;    results 

of  personal  efforts  at,  275 

Emerson,    Ralph   W.,  247 

English,  as  immigrants,  19, 


326 


Index 


21.  126;  language,  influ- 
ence of.  259,  26a 

Environment,  evil  effects  of 
upon  children,  243 

Europe.  American  ideas 
working  in.  33,  34;  immi- 
grants from,  20,  23,  98^ 
123-192 

Evangelization  of  immi- 
grants. 8,  t6,  46,  47;  ac- 
cessibility. 294 ;  ilhistra- 
tion  of,  283;  most  potent 
factor  in  Americanizing. 
270;  need  for  extension 
of,  277;  personal  respon- 
sibility for,  29a;  sporadic, 
not  systematic.  281 

Evasion  of  immigration 
laws,  78-83 

Excluded  classes,  74-78, 
100,   lOI 


Federation  of  Jewish  Chari- 
ties, I02 
Financial  panics,   effect   on 

immigration,  2i5,  31 
Finns,  as  immigrants,  zi 
Fiume,  82,  99 
Forbes,  James,  I39    ^ 
Foreign-born,     distribution 

of.  107 
Four     State     Immigration 

League.  113 
France.  34 

Franklin.  Benjamin,  69 
Freethinkers,  their  societies 

among    immigrants,    168, 

i6q.  180.  285 
French,  as  immigrants,  21, 

129 
French-Canadians,     Roman 

Catholic    convention    of, 

257 
Fung  Yuet  Mow,  269 


Gardner,  Representative,  of 
Massachusetts,  95 

Genoa,  99.  132 

Germans,  as  immigrants, 
19.  21.  35.  t^ 

Germany,  immigrants  from, 
25.  .«.  81 

Goodchild,  Rev.  F,  M.,  33, 
292 

Grant,  Ulysses  S..  247 

Great  Britain,  immigrants 
from.  25,  43.  128 

Greece.  92 

Greek  Catholic  Church,  182, 
184;  Orthodox  or  Rus- 
sian State  Church,  182 

Greeks,  as  immigrants,  21, 
37,  4» 


Hall,  Prescott  P.,  45.  70. 
129 

Hamburg,  82,  99 

Havre,  99 

Hebrew,  see  Jewish,  Jews 

Herzegovinians,  as  immi- 
grants, 183 

Hewes.  F.  W.,  107 

Home  Missions,  at  Ellis  Is- 
land, 274;  demand  for 
extension  of  in  New 
York,  287 ;  opportunities 
of.  for  local  churches, 
279;  personal  work,  274, 
290,  291 ;  results  of 
abroad,  269 ;  settlement 
influences  by  residence, 
292,  293 

Honolulu.  S3 

Huguenot  colonial  stock, 
240 

Hungarians,  as  immigrants, 
33,  128,  177-179;  cafes,  as 
social  centers,  178,  179*. 
fair  degree  of  education, 


Index 


3^7 


177:     open     to     mission 

work,  178 
Hungary,  ift  ia8 
Huns,  27.  16s 
Hunter    Robert,  194.  aoo 
Huss,  John,  166,  170 

Iberic  peoples,  123 
Idles,  excluded.  77,  78 
Illiteracy,  amount  of  among 
imrnigrants.    22,   24;   test 
proposed.  95.  g6 
Inimigrants,  admission,  53- 
64;     "assisted,"    43.     93; 
approachable.  273.  282 ;  at- 
tracted  to   the  city.    195; 
debarred.   70.  71.  77.  78; 
diseased.  57.  60,  74.  77,  78, 
93.  94;   illiteracy  among. 
22,  23,  see  also  Illiteracy; 
"manifest,"    55,    56.    61; 
nationa.ity,  21.  22;  "natu- 
ral,"    31-42;     ports    and 
routes   of  entry.   53,    77; 
s-hcited,"  42,  43,  80-82. 
93 ;  smuggling  of.  81.  92 ; 
religious  census  and  con- 
ditions. 251.  271 ;  value  of 
first      impression      upon. 
273;    views   of    America, 
272:   women   among,    i8. 
61.  76 
Immigration,     annual     vol- 
ume. 17-22;  Bureau  of.  76. 
77,  92.  104 ;  causes  of.  29- 
31;  Christian  view  of,  8; 
classes,  31-43 ;  Conference 
of    1905.    90.    91;    divine 
mission  in.  270;  economic 
fallacies    of,    245;    effect 
upon   educational    policy. 
246;    inspectors  and   offi- 
cers, 59-61.  76.  77;  laws, 
see    Laws,    immigration; 
new  development  of,  121- 


155;  numbers  since  1820. 
25-27:  process  by  thi- 
steerage  and  Kills  Island 
described.  55-62 ;  Restrict- 
ive League,  90 ;  "runner." 
80-82;  steamship  and  rail- 
road    arrangements.     55. 

^  57.  02  "  ^'" 

Indianapolis,  22 

Indians,    North    American. 

Industrial  Commission.  31 

Insane,  exclut'-!d,  77,  78 

Insanity,  low  proportion 
among  Italians  and  Jews. 
140 

Institutional  church,  need 
of,  286,  288 

Ireland.  27,  43,  immigrants 
from  25,  31,  72.  128;  po- 
tato famine,  25 

Irish,  as  immigrants.  19.  21. 
38.  39.  89.  126;  compared 
with  the  Italians,  136.  137 

Italian,  Benevolent  Insti- 
tute, 147;  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  145;  Hospital, 
147;  Immigration  Depart- 
ment, 138 ;  Savings  Bank, 

Italians,  as  immigrants,  19. 
34.  36,  37.  no,  130;  dis- 
tribution. 135.  136;  family 
cooperation.  207;  gener- 
ally peaceable  character. 
141,  142,  208;  illiteracy. 
22,  134;  in  New  York, 
139.  14s.  206;  number  en- 
tering. 19.  134,  135;  par- 
allel drawn  with  Irish. 
136.  137;  societies  for 
mutual  aid.  50.  no.  145, 
147;  spirit  of  converts, 
284;  thrift,  139-147.  207 ; 
women  homemakers,  206 


338 


Index 


ill 


Italy,  92,  131-133;  govern- 
ment action  and  aid,  ^*}, 
III;  immigrants  from 
25.  31,  7a.  79.  107 ;  Royal 
DciMirtmcnt  of  Emigra- 
tion, hi;  sections  com- 
pared, 13 1- KM 

Ives,  Mr.,  294 

Japanese,  as  immigrant^^  40; 
Robinson  (.,'rusoe,  40 

Jefferson,  rresident,  68 

Jerome  of  Prague,   166 

J«Tsey  City.  2i 

Jewish  children  as  pupils, 
189 

Jews,  as  iminiprants,  21,  95, 
ofi  1/3  i^f;,  185-igo; 
Auvtria-ilungarian,  21, 
r%;  v'lcniiau,  185;  good 
«uialif'>  .  190;  number  of 
in  Nt  V  Y<irk.  186.  198; 
Roumanian,  186;  Russian, 
II,  12,  21,  185-190 

John  G.  Carlisle,  ferryboat, 
53 

Joseph  II,  Emperor,  of 
Austria,   167 

Juvenile  Court.  Jewish  chil- 
dren in.   190 

Kansas  City,  22 
Kosciusko,  17,2 
Kossuth,  a  Slovak.  17^ 

Labor.  immigration  of 
skilled  and   unskilled,  23, 

l.atin  races,  as  immigrants, 

113.  131 
Lawrence,  Kansas,  20 
Laws,  immigration,  58.  64; 

Bill  of  1906,  95 ;  problems, 

87-119;  protective,  65-68; 

restrictive,  68-84 ;  summa- 


ries    and     recommenda- 
tions, J06-310 
Lee,  Dr.  S.  H.,  136.  152 
Legisiation.   see   Laws,  im- 
migration 
Letts,    the,    as   immigrants, 

179.  180 
Liberty,     American,     as     a 
working    leaven,    a,    34; 
statue  of,  57.  278 
Lieber,  Francis,  194 
Lincoln.  Abraham,  247 
Lithuanuns.  as  immigrants. 
23,  36,  179.  180;  illiteracy, 

Liverpool,  99 

Lodge.  Senator,  96 

London.  99 

Long  Island,  as  a  field  for 

Italians,  149 
Longfellow,  247 
Louisiana,  113 
Louisville,  23 
Luther,  172 
Lynn,  A'a' .^achusctts,  24 

l^I.i  hit'P'v      !  ect  on  immi- 

r^dit  .r.   fV    ' 'ent,  68 

^^^^.;.  'h   .    i,AO,   (41 

\i-:i:f!.!   \,  j.'tr".'.  _:^ 

ri.f,';.'"  ■.      .        'mmgrants, 

'-'1,    .  ■•>     7      M'teracy,  23; 

set  .  "-      .  i-tn::r.riaHS 
"Man-.      "    :or   immigrant, 

Marine     Hospital     Service, 

59 
Marseilles,  99 
Mashck,  Nan,  166 
Massachusetts,  142,  173 
Mayo-Smith,  Richmond,  52, 

231.  238.  248 
McLanahan.   Samuel,  121 
McMillan,   Margaret,  225 


Index 


3^9 


Mexicans,    as    immigrants, 

21 

Mexico,  ingress  through,  92, 
93 

Michigan,    172 

Milwaukee,   170,  172 

Minneapolis,  21 

Mission  workers  for  immi- 
grants, 274 

Mississippi,  113,   183 

Mitchell,  Max,   102 

Mongolic  peoples.   124 

Montenegrins,  a  >  immi- 
grants, 21,   18.^ 

Morehouse,  Dr.  H.  L.,   368 

Moravians,  as  immigrants. 
164 

Music,  love  of  by  Bohemi- 
ans. 169;  by  Italians,  144 

Naples,  99,  199 

National  Civic  Federation. 
90;  Slavonic  Society,  176 

Naturalization,  illegal  meth- 
ods. 93.  196.  214-215; 
reading  test  desirable.  249 

New   Aiiisterdam,  45 

New  England.  45.  148.  173, 
179:  how  it  can  remain 
Christian.   270.  271 

Nf'w  Haven.  23 

New  Jersey.  14*8.   173.   178 

New  Orleans.   183 

New  York,  Bible  Society, 
50;  State.  69.  70,  103.  107 

^178,  213 

New  York  Citj,  30^39,  53, 
54.  02.  63,  no,  112,  130, 
145.  165,  166,  169,  172, 
176-189,  198,  200,  220; 
chief  port  of  entry  for 
immigrants,  53;  child  life 
and  labor  in,  220,  221 ; 
consumption  in.  220 ; 
cosmopolitan      character, 


108.  199;  foreign  peoples 
in.  If).  14s.  150,  Urt,.  17J, 
178.  79,  i86-i«(>.  Ui^^-jji} 
Norwa>,  27;  immigrants 
from,  Ji,  as,  126 

Occupations,      of      various 

races,  23,  24 
Odessa,  99 
Ogg,   Frederick  A..  92,  93, 

99,  100 
Ohio,   172 

Optimism,  8,  29,  2(i2 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  20 

Padrones,  82.  gj.  1 1 1 
Parochial     scJiooK     among 

aliens,   246,  25O 
Pauperism    in    die    Uniied 
States,     218;     contrasted 
with    poverty,    217;    for- 
eign  percentage  of,   219; 
increased      by      immigra- 
tion, 219 
Pennsylvania,    160-163,    172, 
^  175.  177.  179,  181,  183,  213 
People  s   Forum   in   Cooper 

Institute,    250 
Persecution,    affecting    im- 
migration, 29,   30,  91 
Philadelphia,    38.    53,     172, 

176,   179,    187 
Pittsburg,  82.   172,   174,   176 
Poles,    as    immigrants,    22, 
35.  75.  76,   170-174;  clan- 
nish,   173;    illiteracy,    22, 
173;  independence.  173 
Polish,  Catholics.   174;  girl, 
story      of,       212;      Jew. 
"sweater,"  210;   National 
Alliance.  170 
Ports.       for       examination 
.abroad,  98,  99;  of  entry, 
53 


330 


Index 


K 


^\ 


Portsmouth,    New    Hamp- 
shire, 20 
Poughkeepsie,    New   York, 

20 

Poverty  in  the  United 
States,  2i8;  defined,  217 

Presbyterian  Slavistic  Un- 
ion, 176 

Protestantism,  as  related 
to  immigrants.  7,  39,  47, 
202,  166-174,  177-188,  216, 
224,  251 ;  could  change 
conditions  as  to  child 
labor,  225,  226;  ought  to 
save  immigrants  from 
moral  degeneracy,  255 ; 
vast  opportunity  to  evan- 
gelize and  Americanize, 
267-299 

Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
21 

Public  Schools,  attacks 
upon  to  be  resisted,  248; 
duty  to  elevate,  248;  for- 
eign children  in,  198,  223, 
248;  power  to  American- 
ize, 234,  248.  256 
ublicity,  value  of,  83,  90 

Quarantine,  56,  62 

Railroads  and  immigrants, 
62,  6? 

Reich,   Emil.  131 

Religious  census  of  immi- 
grants in  1900,  251 

Removal  Bureau,  for  di- 
recting Jewish  emigrants, 
III 

Reports,  Commissioner- 
General.  25.  143 

Riis,  Jacob.  194,  216 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  as 
related  to  immigrants. 
133.    151.    152.    167.    168, 


172-174.  177-184,  247,  248 
251,  256,  257,  271,  297 
efforts  to  get  publii 
money  for  parochia 
schools,  246;  some  les- 
sons to  be  learned  from 
279 

Roosevelt,  President,  51 
73,  88.  92,  96.  179 

Rossi,   Adolpho,  138,   147 

Rotterdam,  99 

Roumanians,  as  immi 
grants,  19,  21 ;  see  alsc 
jews 

Rovinanek,  Mr.,  174,   175 

Russia,  34,  128;  immigrant! 
from,  25,  81,  217 

Russian  empire,  19;  Jews 
II,  19,  112;  persecution 
29,  30 


Saint  Louis,  145,  198 

Saint  Nazaire,  99 

Saloon,  evil  efl^cts  of,  216 
217 

Sampson,  Sidney,  260 

San   Francisco,   41,  53,   73 

^148 

Saratoga  Springs,  New 
York.  20 

Sargent,  Commissioner- 
General,.  28,  103.  158,  20: 

Scandinavians,  27;  agricul 
tural  tendency,  127;  use- 
ful immigrants,  19,  21 
126,  217;  small  illiteracy 

23 
Schauffler,    Dr.    A.   F.,    30 

195.  293 
Scotch,   as  immigrants,  21, 

126;  small  illiteracy,  23 
Scotland.  27 
Secretary  of  Commerce  and 

Labor.  77,  78 


Index 


221 


Seelye,      ex-President      of 

Amherst,  255 
Servian    immigrants,   21 
Settlement  service  by  reli- 
gion and  residence,  292, 

293 

Sioux  Falls,  Iowa,  20 

Slavic  home  missionaries, 
^3.  294 ;  peoples,  124 

Slavs,  as  immigrants,  21, 
79.  107.  113.  127,  128,  157- 
192;  defined.  159,  160; 
displacing  other  peoples, 
160,  162;  illiteracy,  23, 164; 
I  largely  unskilled,  164; 
migration  of  recent  date, 
160 ;  mos'ily  mine  and  fac- 
tory workers,  164;  native 
workers   among,   285 

Slovaks,  as  immigrants, 
174-176;  from  agricul- 
tural class,  175;  organi- 
zations among,  176;  tin- 
ware  workers,    176 

Slovenians,   as   immigrants, 

183 

Slums,  peril  of  the  children 
in,  220-224;  poverty  and 
pauperism  of,   217-219 

Socialism,  bred  in  the 
slums,  202 

Societies  in  aid  of  immi- 
grants by  races,   110-112 

Society  for  Italian  immi- 
grants, so.  no,  TII 

Solicitation,  as  affecting 
immigration,  42,  43,  80- 
82,  93 

South  American  immi- 
grants,  21 

South  Carolina,  113 

South,  the  New,  as  a  field 
for  immigrants.   113 

Southampton.  99 

Spahr,  Dr.  Charles  B.,  260 


Spanish      immigrants,      21, 

217 
Special  Inquiry  Board,  77 
Speranza,  Cino  C,  88,   145 
"Stairs  of  Separation,"  62, 

63 

Standards  of  living,  low- 
ered througii  immigra- 
tion, 244 

States  and  countries  as  a 
scale  of  immigration.  24, 
25.  27,  28 

Statistics  of  immigration, 
aliens  since  Revolution, 
28;  arrivals  by  years 
from  1820  to  1905,  302; 
child  labor  in  New  York 
City,  and  in  United  States, 
226,  227;  countries  by  to- 
tals. 127-129;  debarred 
during  fourteen  years, 
and  by  race  or  people,  77, 
303 ;  distribution  by 
states,  105-107;  entries  at 
ports  and  through  Can- 
ada, 53 ;  estimated  immi- 
gration for  1905-6,  20  ; 
illiteracy.  21-23,  '34.  164; 
increase  of  immigrants 
for  1905,  25;  inflow  since 
iSao,  25-27 ;  insanity, 
140;  Italians,  by  years, 
locality,  and  occupation, 
I.J4.  135.  143;  Jews,  chiefly 
Russian,  185,  186,  198; 
labor  skilled  and  un- 
skilled, 23.  24,  134,  164: 
mendicancy,  140;  money 
sent  from  United  States 
to  aid  immigrants,  31  ; 
present  annual  race  totals 
illustrated,  20-23 :  '"ace, 
sex.  and  age  of  immi- 
grants for  1905,  304,  305; 
religious     divisions     for 


25^ 


Index 


1900,  251 ;  savings  and  in- 
vestments <•//  Italians,  I45. 
t^>;  Slavs  «'/r  1905,  159, 
see  also,  tor  distribution 
and  oicupation,  165-183; 
temlenty  among  Italians 
to  forsake  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church,  271 

Steamships  for  immigrants, 
55.  57;  overcrowding,  65; 
rate  cutting,  79!  steerage 
abuses  and  reforms,  65- 
68;  unkind  treatment,  57, 
58,  67;  unsanitary  ar- 
rangements, 65-67;  viola- 
tion of  laws,  78-84 

Stettin,  99 

Sirong,  Dr.  Josiah,  9-16, 
193.   194.  256,  257 

Sunday  laws  and  observ- 
ance, as  aflFectcd  by  immi- 
gration, 72,  237,  -'4'.  252- 
254;  Sunday-schools, 

among    immigrants,    284, 

294  .        .    .  I 

Sweat-shop,    descfipfon    ot 

system.  209,  210;  reproach 

to    Christian    civilization, 

210;  victims  of.  210-213 

Swtdcn,  27;  immigrants 
from,  23,  25,  33.  .37.  38, 
126 

Swiss,  a«  immigrants,  ai, 
28 

Switzerland.  27.  43 

Syrian  immigrants,  23,  39 

Tariff,  effect  on  immigra- 
tion, 44 

Temperance,  largr  measure 
of,  among  Chinese.  Ital- 
ians,  and    Jews,    73,    141, 

TOO 

Tenement-houses,  descnp 
tion    of   life    in.   204-208; 


*vils  of.  aoi ;  exorbitai 
rents,  20z;  model  bloc 
of  suggested,  2^,  r< 
sponsibility  of  landlord 
202 ;  unsanitary  cond 
tions  of,  211 

Tent     campaign,      winnir 
Italians,  .282 

Teutonic  people.-,  123 

Texas,  113 

Thompson,  Dr.  Charles  1 
117,  26R 

Training  schools,  needed 
work  among  aliens,  286 

Triet<     09 

TwAi,   Mr.  G.,   145 

Turks,    as    immigrants.   2 
illiteracy.  Ji 

Tymkevich,  Paul,  158 

United     Hebrew    Chariti< 

in.  219.  277 
United  Kingdom,  see  Gr< 

Britain 
United    Statf*.    agenci*- 

nelpful      to     immigran 

50.  54.  57-63-  III-  27 
"assisted"  immigrate 
to,  43,  03;  attraction  < 
29-42:  Immigratiin  I 
vestigating  Commi  <i«- 
112.  I  If  Indu>itrial  <  01 
mission  im  Imrnigratif 
141 ;  legisliifj/rfi  »<  to  ii 
migrant*  ^'^  f jfwi  h 
mifiration:  man*/  h' 
relatives  in,  to  aid  irrifi 
grants.  jf  ;  natioi 
song's  34:  Past-<^ce, 
immigration  ageiicy,  : 
see  also  Comntissiotti 
General  of  Immigratii 
Ports  of  entry 

Venice.    199 


Index 


333 


xorbitant 
k)    block 
a88,     re 
andlord>^ 
r     condi 

winning 

larks  L., 

needed  in 
:ns,  286 

5 

ants.   Ji 

158 
Charittc . 

see  Gna' 


ViBC«nr!es,  Indiana,  ao 

Virginia,  45,  ,75 

Vote,  forfig),   peril  of,  249 

Walker,  Francis  A.    jm 
Ward,  Roberf  I).,  iq^ 
^^'    f-  ■/■•  '57,  158,  i6z, 

Warsaw,    /// 

Washington,    i,<y    of,    24- 

President,  68  ^' 

Watchorn,       Commissioner 

Kofjert,  JO  82 

Welsh    as   immigrants,   21. 
136  0,1, 

WhelpJey.  /.  D.,  16,  70,  79, 


Wisconsin.  167 

W(mien  immigrants,  18,  js. 
^  39.  57.  ,§..  67.  75.  %: 
J04,  special  inspection 
for,  61,  76 

Work  of  leading  denomina- 
tions for  foreign  popula- 
tion. Jii-Ji7 

Yiddish  language,  198 
Young  people,    as   creators 
of  public  sentiment.   197 
opportunity  of  for  Chris- 
tian service,  8 

Ziska.  General,  166 


;enru'-    <  ' 
imigrant 
III.    274 
migrafi'  i 
action  of 
iivfti     In 
mmi  sion 
rial  '  'on    [_ 
migration 
a<  U)  im- 

aid  mrf' 

nationii! 
-office,  an 
;ency,  3.I ; 
missioner- 
migration, 


RACES  OF  IMMIGRANT! 


ITALIAN  (fbOTHl   HMtO 


scEgianiiiio 


:MnsEOiniEi 


SERMAN  aainy 


W.l.!l»J12FA'lfj:B!I 


IRISH  54,a«« 


SLOVAK  St.Biyi 


£W6USH  sTieB 


rLIT/.-LITri 


ITALIAN  TftORTH) 
CROAT  IA|n  —  SLO 


LitlHUANIAN  18.60 


FINNISH  17.012 


"el^OTCH  16, M4 
I^rJuTHENIAN  14.473 


.fijREEK  12  144 

Bohemian  ""MORAVIAN 

">RENCH  11,347 


3jAPANESe  11,021 


O  I    DUTCH »- FLEMISH  8.4B8 

I   ROUMANIAN  7,818 

i        I   CUBAN    7259 

u 

[]]      KOREAN  4.929 

PORTUGUESE  4,855 
SYRIAN  4.822 


BUl^ARIAN,  SERVIAN 
»f.o  MONTENEGRINS^? 

SPANISH   5,590 


MEDITERRANEAN 


3 
3 
3 
] 
3 
3 

] 
1 


RUS8iAN3,746  I — =— _ 

I    SLAVIC       364.6^6 
AFRICAN     (BLACK)  3.598 


DALMATIAN,BOSNIANA».HERZEeOVINIAN   2,6  3  9 
WELSH  2.551 

r~1SLAVIC 


TURKISH  2.145 
CHINESE  1,971 
ARMENIAN  1,878 


I  I    KELTIC  [ 


TEUTONr 
IBEF 

TEUTONIC 
MONGOLIC 


FlOURES  ON  THE  MAP  REPRESENT  THE  NUMBER  OF  IMMIGRANTS  OF  THE  RACES  NAMCO  COMIN( 
TOTAL  NUM6ER  OF  IMMIGRANTS  OF  THE  RACES  NAMED  COMING  FROM  ALL  COUNTRIES 
THE  COLOR  ON  MAF  INDICATES  APPROXIMATELY  REO  UNS  OF  THE  RACIAL  GRAND  DIVISIONS 
WHERE   THE   TERMS  ■•■OHEMIAn,-  'BULGARIAN."    -CROATIAN.     AND     •DALMATIAN"   ARE    USED, 
■CROATIAN  AND  SLOVENIAN.'   AND  •'  DALMATIAN.  BOSNIAN,  AND  HEBZE60VINIAN  " 


ITS   FISCAL  YEAR  1905 


GERMAN 

35,325. 


3S802/ 


POLISH     M7fS  OMLMATIANU**^ 

^ MM lUi»"UTMClllAII  IMS^ 

^CROATIAN  8' 

SLOVAK  • 


mi 


::^7< 


«i 


ROUMAN'iAN^ 
423. 


Ol 


WyL 


OARI^H 


i.tao 


«t, 


'S'z 


UHKIJ 


I4f4. 


N     SEA 


f 


LiMi 


!? 


-ft»? 


T^ 


RUSSIA 

TOTAL  184.622 
HIBMIW   02;ita 

^OLltH      47.224- 
FINNISH     I  ft  97 1 
•KNMAN   e.722 
LITHUANIAN  a«4«' 
tCANOINAVIAN  «90 
IIUt»IAN  9^272 


BLACK    SEA 


ASIA 

•Vr^tAN  4;0M 


TONICr~22l.0»9 


iBERicizia.eoi 
DNIC        I         I   IBERIC 


IKgLTie  ii4.iTr 


OLIC        [         I  ALL  OTHERS 


MONGOLlCnnzT 
ALLOTHERSr  e4.8»l 


o 

39 
> 
Z 

o 

C 

< 

(A 

O 

Z 

TO 


COMINQ    FROM   EACH  COUNTRV    INDICATED,  WHILE   THE  FlQURES   ON    THE    BARS   RtPRESCNT    TmE 

IONS 

E    USED.  THEV    REFER  TO 'BOHEMIAN  AND  MORAVIAN.'    •  BULGARIAN.  SERVIAN.  AND    MONTENEG*fN  ■ 


